Regardless of the species of swans, most swans migrate out of cold weather. Southern Hemisphere swans such as Black Swans would have a very difficult time with trying to survive in extremely cold weather. Captive swans cannot migrate so they are also extremely susceptible to cold weather diseases or disorders such as colds, pneumonia, avian flu, etc. Cygnets have very few feathers and very little down to keep them warm and dry. These baby swans must rely on the mother swan's feathers and body warmth to keep them dry which is why they huddle under the parents in the nest.

Even with the best of care, the fragile young can succumb to the elements. Parent swans do the best that they can. Most swans know when to mate due to change in weather patterns, i.e., warming trends after cold weather, availability of food resources, etc. So, if you have had an extreme period of cold weather and intermittent warming, the birds may think that it is spring and begin to mate prematurely. When the cold returns, the eggs may freeze or the cygnets may die from the extreme temperatures.

Artificial incubation with swan eggs is fairly difficult. You must have a certain temperature and humidity in the incubator and the eggs must be gently rotated. All of this care from humans cannot compare to the care and knowledge that a mother swan provides.

Finally, a swan raised by humans never understands how to be a swan, how to protect itself from predators and other basic swan knowledge. The swan will in essence think it is a human rather than a swan. Parent swans WILL NEVER care for or recognize a cygnet that is hatched away from the nest. So, trying to reunite the cygnet(s) with the parents after artificial incubation can result in severe injury or even death to the cygnet because the adult swans will immediately disown the cygnets and banish them from the territory. We hope that this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan