Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 31 March 2015

Hi Jacqueline:

The plastic carrier would not be the shelter to use. It can float away, upend in the water and drown the swan. Also, the swan will not be able to stretch for long periods of time. If she stands up, she is going to strike her wings against the walls, possibly injuring her wings. Additionally, the floor is slippery and a hurt leg or foot can be deadly for waterfowl.

It would be better to build a small pen with chain link fencings (with poultry fencing top of the fence tightly strung so a predator cannot fall into the pen- and lined on the bottom with poultry fencing so that predators cannot dig under).

However, since you are under HOA restrictions, construction of a pen may not be possible. The ideal pen would be to purchase a dog run (Home Depot/Lowe’s) and anchor it ˝ on land and ˝ in water with feeder inside. You will need to anchor the dog run so that it cannot slip into the water.

Now, the hard part is going to get the swan to go inside. You will need to either lure the bird with food or use a kayak/canoe to herd the bird into the pen. This may or may not work, and if the bird does not want to be in the pen, you may not get her into the pen after the first try. But, you do need to try or she is going to have to be on her own and hopefully, will stay in the water at night and not on the bank. If she goes on the bank during the night, she could be attacked by a predator and meet the same fate as the male swan.

Because of the above issues, we would suggest that you try to keep her alive and not worry about another swan until you can figure out how to house a swan(s) at night. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- Jacqueline -- 25 March 2015
Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- The Regal Swan -- 25 March 2015
Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- Jacqueline -- 31 March 2015
Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- The Regal Swan -- 31 March 2015
Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- Jacqueline -- 2 April 2015
Re: Male swan killed, we want to purchase another male for the female swan -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2015