Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 10 August 2012

Hi Jannis:

This is a good question because there are many variables to this question. How cold is your winter? Does your pond completely freeze during the winter months? Do you have an aerator that will stop the freezing? How old are the cygnets? Can they survive the winter without the parents, i.e., from predators, the inclement weather, etc., which would mandate that you would need to bring them indoors?
Were the parents pinioned? Were the parents wild swans? Did the parents ever teach them to fly?

Any and all of these questions could lean toward staying or flying. There are no guarantees in this situation. If they were never taught how to fly, does not mean that they cannot figure it out, but if you are the sole source of their food and have been since their hatching, they would probably tend to stay with you and you would need to care for them during inclement winter weather. We hope this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- jannis -- 17 July 2012
Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- The Regal Swan -- 17 July 2012
Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- Jannis -- 10 August 2012
Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- The Regal Swan -- 10 August 2012
Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- Jannis -- 12 August 2012
Re: mute swan cygnets in the water all winter without parents present -- The Regal Swan -- 12 August 2012