How old is the cygnet? If the swan cannot fly due to young age or something wrong with it so that it cannot migrate, it will not survive the winter. The best thing for the young bird is an immediate capture/rescue. See if you can persuade it to come up to you for food or at least close enough to either grab it or place a net around it. You are only going to get one chance at this because he will try to elude you once he knows that you are trying to capture him. It will be much easier from the shore than having to get a kayak or other boat to net him or chase him back onto shore. Bribery with food is always the easiest way to proceed.

Once he is captured, you can house him for the winter in a garage or other area that a small kiddie pool (can be sunk into the ground to form a zero entrance). You will need to keep him indoors at night to protect him from predators, but you can allow him to go outside on a warmer sunnier day into a day pen (chain link fence 1/2 in the water and 1/2 on land so that he can stretch and bathe. A feeder should be placed in both the outdoor and indoor pen so that the food (1/2 cracked corn and 1/2 poultry layer pellet) can be fully submerged in the water so that he can feed and not choke. He will be able to survive in the indoor and outdoor pen for the winter.

Just ensure that he stays indoors if it is too chilly, snowy, rainy or windy as young swans may not have the warmer feathers to protect themselves from freezing temperatures. Should you catch him and have additional questions, please contact this site and leave your phone number and we will get back to you and try to help you further. The Regal Swan