Build a pen half on water and half on land(approxiately 6 feet wide and 12 feet long). Line the bottom of the pen with poultry fencing so that the turtles cannot come up into the pen or predators can dig under the pen. Be sure to enclose the top of the pen so that no predators can enter into the top of the pen. The bank must be on a small incline so that the cygnets can easily enter and exit the water without having to strain their young legs to climb up and down a steep bank.

Place all cygnets with both parents in the pen and place a feeder in the pen so that the swans can feed freely. You can keep the swans in the pen until they are about 3-4 months of age, old and big enough not to be a snack for the turtles.

They need to have access to the pond because you will not have to keep emptying and filling the water in the pens for cleaning. Also, the long times spent swimming will strengthen their legs and bodies so that when they do get out on the lake they will be in shape. The Regal Swan