Ask the Swan Specialist
Date: 27 January 2014
Hi there,
I live in Kentucky and our weather this winter has been the harshest yet on our black swans. We had 2 females, almost 4 years old. I lost one 3 weeks ago during the zero degree temp and have one left. Never did I find the body of the other, but clearly she is no longer here.
My other one has been storming this weather alone and after the 23 acre lake completely froze I decided enough was enough and brought her into my shed. I chose the lesser of two evils and have confined her, but I am such a worry wart about her happiness. Seeing her sit in the middle of a frozen lake with icicles all over and no water source was hard to see. She came over to me when I brought her some water and I was able to get her with no fight. She seemed tired..so since Friday she has been on a bed of straw in my shed confined in a 5 by 5 pen. Am I doing the right thing? Our lake will take days to thaw, even just a small amount for her to sit in and it will be -3 again in the morning.
I am worried of her developing aspergillus...I am feeding her watermelon, romaine lettuce, whole corn, warm water. She is eating well. No breathing problems yet. I just worry about her stressing in her confined area. She has the run of 23 acres usually. I didn't know how long she can stay confined before she develops depression or something worse. Thanks for any advice! Also she has a missing web on her right foot due to injury 2 years ago. And her right toe had to be adulterated. I noticed out on ice, she held it up much which I wondered about circulation. Another reason I chose to put her up for a few days.
Messages In This Thread
- Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Elizabeth -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- The Regal Swan -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Lynne -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Elizabeth -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Elizabeth -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- The Regal Swan -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Elizabeth -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- The Regal Swan -- 28 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- Elizabeth -- 27 January 2014
- Re: Brought black swan to our shed after lake froze -- The Regal Swan -- 27 January 2014
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