Hello, we have a fenced property of about 8 acres. A small-medium sized pond roughly 120ft x 75ft. We have four donkeys on the property (2 of which are miniature) which are good guard animals. Just before Thanksgiving 2012 we purchased a pair of swans. The seller told us they were a mated pair and roughly 3 years old. He breeds them and said they had just constructed a nest before selling them to us. After delivery they were stand-off-ish for a good week or two. But day by day became friendlier and would practically eat out of our hands. The seller gave us a 50 pound bag of cow feed? Like small pellets? Which the swans definitely love and the donkeys would also try and get some.

The pen was a good bit larger than the cob. After several weeks of staying near the water, the couple began to wander the 8 acres of land around them. But more recently within the last week or so I noticed that only the cob was out and about, while the pen stayed in the water. Swimming about, everything appeared normal. But the cob was constantly walking the perimeter of the property, all the way up to the fence line, actually gently pushing against the wire fencing while walking down it, almost like he was testing how sturdy it was?

He also would wait near the donkey pen and stand next to the covered barrel that stores the swan food. Again the female pen would stay in the water. It seems as though the cob was looking for something the way he was constantly out of the water, leaving the pen in the pond. Either for food? another mate? Don't know? The night before last I went out to feed them as I always do, placing their food in a floating tray in the pond and both came close and ate as usual.

Yesterday I came home from work and checked on the animals, donkeys looked fine, but one of the swans layed still in the pond. At first glance I thought it was sleeping, but a closer look showed her extended neck floating. She was dead, but the cob seemed fine, just waiting for me to feed him. I pulled her out of the water and examined her. Checking all around, top and bottom of body and I could not find anything physically wrong? No cuts, no tangles, no loss of feathers, no blood. I am by no means a doctor, but from the outside she looks perfect.

We are very distraught over this beautiful creature being dead. The more disturbing is not knowing what the cause was. Maybe you can provide an expert look into this? I called the seller and he said it is very odd, he checked our property/pond upon delivery for any poisoness plants, snakes, etc. and all looked good. If she were sick, I would think she would have been much thinner, but she was quite hefty and larger than the cob.

I can only think of a few possibilities, the cob kept leaving her in the pond, maybe a divorce and she was heart broken?? Or, maybe she startled a donkey and got kicked? Maybe a coyote or dog got on the property and scared her? I don't know the answer but am very sad by this. Is it normal for just the cob to be walking all over land with the mate staying in the water? I could not find any sign of a nest being constructed which was my first thought.

Your help and feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for this wonderful website, I have learned alot from it. God Bless.