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Why are swans so expensive?

post #1 of 12
1/11/12 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 

I have a natural pond on my property that covers about an acre.  I thought it would be fun to get a pair of swans to add to my ducks.  Holy cow!  They're so expensive!  Why???  Are they hard to breed?

 

Does anyone know of somewhere to get them for less than thousands of dollars?

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Ancona ducks

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post #2 of 12
1/11/12 at 5:32pm

If you get them as babies they are less expensive. Look for a breeder near you. It takes a lot of time to raise up the babies.... Lots of greens, lots of care...... I like the Black swans as far as personality and willingness to get along with other birds. They are also the least expensive..... Averaging $150 - $350 each cygnet typically.

My Heart is Broken... I miss you my Sweet Sophie Puff Diva Chicken....
Living and working on a Zoo farm - 300 plus chickens, fancy pigeons, Sebbies geese, turkey, crested ducks, peafowl, ornamental pheasant and ducks, Black swans, Egyptian geese, African Crowned Cranes, Emu, fainting goats, mini zebu, mini horses,mini donkey, alpacas, llamas, horses, 5 Great Pyrenees and a cat.
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My Heart is Broken... I miss you my Sweet Sophie Puff Diva Chicken....
Living and working on a Zoo farm - 300 plus chickens, fancy pigeons, Sebbies geese, turkey, crested ducks, peafowl, ornamental pheasant and ducks, Black swans, Egyptian geese, African Crowned Cranes, Emu, fainting goats, mini zebu, mini horses,mini donkey, alpacas, llamas, horses, 5 Great Pyrenees and a cat.
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post #3 of 12
1/11/12 at 10:48pm

They wont start to mate til they are at least 3 years old. They take a higher protein feed wise. They should have lots of greens as well.

.......Thanks........ed.......Portland, IN......
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.......Thanks........ed.......Portland, IN......
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post #4 of 12
1/12/12 at 8:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 92caddy View Post

They wont start to mate til they are at least 3 years old. They take a higher protein feed wise. They should have lots of greens as well.


Hi Ed!  frow.gif
 

 

Husband of 12 years, amazing 6 yo daughter, 9 horses,  too many chickens, 2 turkey, guineas,  5 peafowl, a goose and 3 ducks.

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Husband of 12 years, amazing 6 yo daughter, 9 horses,  too many chickens, 2 turkey, guineas,  5 peafowl, a goose and 3 ducks.

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post #5 of 12
1/12/12 at 8:59am

Mute swans are also regulated in many states by the department of natural resources because they are considered an invasive species, so that effects the supply of mutes some. Some states will not allow you to bring new mute swans into the state.  Black swans,BTW, are considered to be exotics and are not regulated by the DNR in most places.  Finding a local or smaller breeder will save you a lot of money.  Many larger business will buy the swans from smaller breeders and then resell them for more money.  Also, swan eggs are more difficult to incubate.  

 

I think the cygnets are pretty cute.

LL

CHICKENS:to name just a few cochin, orpington,  OEG  also have: mute swans, geese, and cats
  SEE MY BYC PAGE  for photos 

  SEE MY  CHICKEN PAGE for even more photos

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CHICKENS:to name just a few cochin, orpington,  OEG  also have: mute swans, geese, and cats
  SEE MY BYC PAGE  for photos 

  SEE MY  CHICKEN PAGE for even more photos

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post #6 of 12
1/12/12 at 9:55am

In addition to all of this, they are seasonal breeders so it's not like you can raise them year round. And, with some breeds, you have to pay to have them DNA sexed and to be legal, and so your investment doesn't just fly away someday, they have to be pinioned.  When you add it all together they are very expensive to raise.

Traditional Serama's, True Araucanas's. Barred Hollands, Guineas, Black Spanish and Blue SlateTurkeys, a male Mute Swan (Barry), Llama's, 2 Brahman type cows, Exotic colored Ponies, MFT's, Gaited Mule, 4 dogs, 1 barn cat and my African Grey Parrot.

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Traditional Serama's, True Araucanas's. Barred Hollands, Guineas, Black Spanish and Blue SlateTurkeys, a male Mute Swan (Barry), Llama's, 2 Brahman type cows, Exotic colored Ponies, MFT's, Gaited Mule, 4 dogs, 1 barn cat and my African Grey Parrot.

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post #7 of 12
1/12/12 at 10:26am

That Cygnet is adorable love.gif

 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

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 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

Reply
post #8 of 12
1/12/12 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 

Oh my gosh!  That is the sweetest thing ever!  What type of cygnet is that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scratch'n'peck View Post

Mute swans are also regulated in many states by the department of natural resources because they are considered an invasive species, so that effects the supply of mutes some. Some states will not allow you to bring new mute swans into the state.  Black swans,BTW, are considered to be exotics and are not regulated by the DNR in most places.  Finding a local or smaller breeder will save you a lot of money.  Many larger business will buy the swans from smaller breeders and then resell them for more money.  Also, swan eggs are more difficult to incubate.  

 

I think the cygnets are pretty cute.

LL



 

Ancona ducks

Sebastopol geese

Serama chickens

 

 

 

 

Reply

Ancona ducks

Sebastopol geese

Serama chickens

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 12
1/13/12 at 12:20pm

The cost of swans and any other bird is usually determined by availability, difficulty of care and difficulty in rearing young.  Swans take 4 or 5 years to lay any eggs and when when they do it is a small clutch and then you have to raise these small cygnets to  adult sized birds.  When taken care of properly they need to be on water as soon as possible so as to avoid bow legs and to attain good feather. This takes a lot of time, effort and patience so the cost is higher than an embden goose which is going to raise every year, lay lots of eggs and is designed to walk on land.

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post #10 of 12
1/13/12 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark HSV-AL View Post

The cost of swans and any other bird is usually determined by availability, difficulty of care and difficulty in rearing young.  Swans take 4 or 5 years to lay any eggs and when when they do it is a small clutch and then you have to raise these small cygnets to  adult sized birds.  When taken care of properly they need to be on water as soon as possible so as to avoid bow legs and to attain good feather. This takes a lot of time, effort and patience so the cost is higher than an embden goose which is going to raise every year, lay lots of eggs and is designed to walk on land.


Ah, then that makes sense why they are so much.  I didn't realize they were so much different from other waterfowl.  I'll keep my eyes open locally.  I would still love to get a pair and I have the ideal place for them on my beaver pond.
 

 

Ancona ducks

Sebastopol geese

Serama chickens

 

 

 

 

Reply

Ancona ducks

Sebastopol geese

Serama chickens

 

 

 

 

Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Ornamental Fowl (Swans, etc.) › Why are swans so expensive?