Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Swan Eggs
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 6 February 2012
In Response To: Swan Eggs (Susan)

Hi Susan:

We seriously doubt that these are authentic eggs if there is no hole to remove the fluid or other matter. If you shake the egg, you should feel fluid moving in the egg. If it is solid, it means that there could be a dead cygnet (undeveloped or developed) baby swan in the egg. This would add some weight to the egg. In either case, you are going to have an extremely smelly bacteria laden egg which will need to be thoroughly cleaned with peroxide or alcohol. If there is fluid in the egg, the egg could literally explode and this bursting will cause an even bigger smell and mess.

If you want to know for sure what might be in the eggs, take a bright flashlight/pen light and turn the room lights off. Using the flashlight, hold the egg in front of the bright light and look for an air bubble. This technique is called candling. Large air bubbles are usually indicative that the egg is probably not fertile and a small air bubble at the top of the egg may indicate that there is fetal matter.

Swan eggs depending on species, vary slightly in color and size. Usually, they are greenish to cream colored becoming lighter as they age and are subjected to sunlight. They can be the size of the palm of your hand, slightly larger or smaller, again depending upon the species.

The shell is rather thin with a thin, almost leathery white membrane that lines the inside of the egg. So, the egg is not too difficult to cut. We hope this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Swan Eggs -- Susan -- 4 February 2012
Re: Swan Eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 6 February 2012