This has become a difficult situation. The new male swan just sits on the edge of the ice bordering the free water, which is melting everyday due to the warmer temperatures here in the Hudson Valley area of NY. The female allows 25 or so ducks to swim around but so far the male just sits.

Yesterday we had to rescue him when he left the property and ended up a mile away in a stream and that wasn't easy.
I have not seen him eat anything since we introduced him to the pond due to the female. Its not going to possible to pen him at this point because he stays on the fragile ice.

In your opinion will the female ever accept him? The breeder said if i can capture them both and pay the freight back he would send a new younger unbonded couple.

We like our female, but the situation is really frustrating. We have already spent well over a thousand dollars with the vet for our male that didn't make it. Plus the cost of the new male, and now the expense of having to hire someone to capture both swans and shipping them back is really annoying. We are novices and don't want to injure them in the attempt, if it comes to that.

Is there no chance at this point, with the male sitting there like an intimidated lame duck, bonding with our cranky picky female?? Will she soften up in a week, will the male ever eat? I put food all over the place but haven't seen him eat anything. He has been here since the 5th of march its now the 7th, a lot of drama for 48 hours.
« Hide