Without seeing the cygnet, we are not sure what might be occurring. Usually, swans will place one leg on their back for rest or to dissipate heat since there is an abundance of blood vessels in the feet. If the cygnet cannot walk or place weight on the foot, then it is not going to survive for very long because it needs to get out of the water for drying, preening and warming purposes.

If it is just resting the foot or cooling off, it should do just fine. However, if you see it struggling to get on land or you are still concerned, you might want to call the RSPCA so they can exam the cygnet to ensure that everything is okay. The Regal Swan