A cygnet (baby swan) needs to be with its mother for at least 6-8 months. This is the time needed for the mother to teach it how to be a swan, recognize, avoid and escape predators, search for food etc.

If you introduce the cygnet prior to this time, it will be killed by a predator or die from the stress from being chased by the other swans and prevented from entering and exiting the water. Additionally, the cygnet could be seriously injured and even killed by the other swans.

After 6 months, should you introduce the swan to another pond, you will need an introduction pen (see previous posts), or the swan will not understand that the pond is its new habitat, it may wander into traffic, predators etc., trying to get back to its previous pond and the other swans will not accept another swan without a proper introduction. Again, resulting in serious injury or death from fighting swans. The Regal Swan
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