If the cygnets are only 3 months of age, they are not ready to go out onto the pond by themselves. They need to be kept in a protected water pen (enclosed top to bottom) to prevent predators. A feeder should be inside the pen. A zero entrance should be in place for entry and exit out of the water to prevent leg injuries. This pen should be for daytime use only and water accessibility SUPERVISED.

Since the cygnets do not have their adult feathers, the young birds can not only chill, but they can drown if their feathers are not mature enough to maintain water repellency. We would suggest that they are brought inside in a protected dry warm area at nighttime.

The flooring of wherever they are kept needs to be slip resistant as leg and foot injuries can be detrimental to waterfowl survival. Do NOT use newspaper or other slippery surfaces. Hard rocky surfaces can also cause a condition known as bumblefoot which is basically a callous that may become infected. Soft surfaces such as sheets or towels can be used to prevent leg and foot injuries.

A child's playpen or rubbermaid tub can be used to house the cygnets at night. You can use towels or sheets for the flooring, but make sure that the cygnets cannot get caught in the sheets and suffocate. Proper ventilation, not direct air current should be maintained away from chemicals, gasoline, etc.. Pets should not have any access to the birds. Even though all of this information may seem overwhelming, cygnets can easily be raised to adulthood as long as certain protective practices are inacted.

Normally, we would release cygnets out on the pond on their own (without parental protection) around 5-6 months of age. By then, their feathers are mature enough to promote water repellence and maintain normal warmth. Additionally, the cygnets should be big enough that hawks, owls, snapping turtles, or other similar predators will not take them out of the water. However, if predators such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, etc., are in the area, a protected (enclosed top and bottom) night pen would be highly suggested. The Regal Swan