There are a couple of considerations before you decide to get the two females.

First, many states are now requiring permits to possess mute swans as they are seen as a non-native species. Secondly, if you get the females, you may now be considered a breeder due to the possibility of having cygnets. You need to check with Florida Fish & Wildife Commission to see if you need a permit for breeding.

Secondly, most male swans usually will not re-mate if something has happened to their mates. Not to say, that they will not, but usually, they do not. If you get the females, you will need to build a pen (covered from predators) 1/2 in the water and 1/2 on land so that the birds can familiarize themselves to their habitat, preen and bathe in a safe area from the males. A feeder should be placed in the pen so that the birds can acclimated themselves to how they will be fed. You also need to ensure that the females are old enough to mate (approximately 2 years of age) as the males can hurt a younger female trying to mate.

If there is any sign of agression, this introduction probably will not work. If after approximately 2 weeks, there is no sign of aggression, you can release them onto the pond with a boat nearby to ensure that if any aggression occurs, you can affect a rescue. You should constantly monitor the situation for several weeks to ensure that the males do not try to kill the new swans.

If this introduction works, you will have cygnets once mating season begins. This will cause the males to fight and there will be a territorial war on the pond to determine which end of the pond belongs to each or one family. This can cause one of the swan pairs to be chased from the pond which will pose a danger if the swans wander into areas with wild or domestic predators (alligaors, dogs, cats, etc.).

Finally, what are you going to do with the cygnets once they hatch? A female mute swan can produce up to 13 cygnets each year. Usually, the brood size ranges from 1-6 cygnets. So, if both pairs produce cygnets, you will have an additional 12 swans on the pond. During the next mating season, there will be fights and once again, all swans will be chased and the young juveniles chased from the pond. This will probably mean that you will need to find a good home for the 12 cygnets (this is why many states consider this as breeding).

Swans are high maintenance. Cygnets require even more care including additional veterinary care. Cygnets, by law must be pinioned. This procedure should be conducted by a licensed veterinarian experienced in waterfowl or swans. The procedure should be conducted between 1-3 weeks of age, otherwise anesthesia must be used which can be harmful to the birds and pinioning is much harder on older swans.

Sometimes, having two males or two females is a much better situation than having breeding pairs. If you still want two females, we would suggest Knox Swans in Illinois which is a reputatble licensed breeder. Ensure that whereever you get your swans, that proper paperwork, pinioning, reliable DNA sequencing for sexing has been provided. Some breeders will tell you that swans are a certain gender or are pinioned, and many an unwary owner has found out that after the sale, the breeder is actually unscrupulous. We hope that this information is of benefit to you. The Regal Swan