This may be a juvenile that was banished from his parents and has moved into your area for safety and general relocation to keep from being beaten by other territorial swans during the mating/nesting season.

If the swan has a light beak and does not have the dark reddish/orange coloration, then you may be dealing with a very young swan that is scared, has no idea what to do since it was chased from familiar surroundings to unfamiliar surroundings.

The major issue is to keep it away from any domestic pets or wildlife within the fenced in area. If the bird can be maintained in the water, it would be better for the chances of its survival against predators. Sleeping or staying in a fenced area in which it cannot flee, is extremely dangerous.

Swans need to be fed in the water and should be provided a 1/2 mixture of cracked corn and 1/2 poultry layer pellets. The layer pellets provide nutrients and micro-nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium etc. The cracked corn serves as a filler to make the bird feel full and will also provide the swan with much needed Vitamin A from the yellow grain. This vitamin helps maintain neurological health.

If the swan is a very young bird, you will not be able to ascertain whether it is a male or female. The most reliable test for gender is DNA Sequencing. Probing, looking for the penis or penile node requires the bird to be at least 2 years or age or older for accurate gender determination.

Again, the swan may be traveling solo due to being banished from its parents and in the normal scheme of nature, looking for a life-long mate. The Regal Swan
« Hide