Swan Breeders in Michigan?

[birdmanmax]

Hello I have raised many different types of poultry and would like to add some swans to the mix.
Any kind would work but preferable mutes (I hear they are cheaper) and I was also wonder if there is any breeders that sell eggs? But my main question is if there is any breeders in Michigan?

 

[bdfive]

I would do the same with Australians if I had them regarding the protection from the cold.
I really doubt the mutes would overheat in TX......they are incredibly adaptable and as long as they have shade they should do well. Our summers are often in the 90's which would not be so bad if it wasn't 90% humidity to go along with that! We're very conscious of the heat as we have an alpaca farm and the heat is far more dangerous for them than the cold.
I remember way back when you were making that trough and getting ready for Gracie #1 and Gunner, btw! Have you looked into fish that could help keep it clean? I know some livestock folks do that for drinking water!
Yes, they do need more water to breed and if you've never seen the breeding "dance", to me it is beautiful and fascinating. Mine get lovey-dovey a lot, and it often seems to be just mutual affection as they don't always end by mating.
That said, I would beg you to reconsider the breeding part; there's really not a lot of market out there for swans any more and the laws in many states about having them are getting tougher and tougher. I do a lot of rescue, and I've also seen what happens when people get desperate and take them to auction. To say that it's sad is an understatement. And with most mutes, if your pond is not huge (and mine is not), there will come the day when parents want the offspring gone to their own pond and will not tolerate them staying on the original pond. We have this problem now with the young female, and have had to really work at fencing in part of the pond to protect her. Even so, they have twice gotten to her and both parents would have killed her if we hadn't seen and caught it in time. It literally makes me cry to addle the eggs each spring, but hatching them is truly not worth the headache even though I miss the baby time like crazy.
The young female I have was the last time I let eggs hatch, and that was only because I had a previous buyer asking for a couple more for one of her rental properties and I know her birds are so well taken care of. But I still ended up with this extra female, so now I'm sorry I did it!

I mentioned Gunther getting rough with Gracie in the shallow water....only reason I want larger pond/trough....and feel they're happier. I don't want the female hurt with him trying to breed her in so little depth. Don't care if they can produce cygnets for reason of very few proper homes for them. LOL, I say that but OH MY GOODNESS, the babies are a delight. I'll post a picture of those I hatched out for the ranch of which I kept my 2.
YES, have seen the ritual many times and it's a sight to behold.
Asked swan rescue person what to do if not wanting eggs to hatch and she mentioned technique but didn't know it was called addling. Just looked it up...didn't realize it's done after embryo has formed. Ugh, see why you say it makes you cry but probably better then a bad life they may have to endure.
Do you have an opinion of how often I should change the 300 gallon trough being used for Gracie and Gunther? It's not large enough to put large fish in. They would eat small ones. Also would have to catch the fish when I pump the water out to replace with clean. I do intend to get a few koi once have a larger pond built with adequate filtration.
So good chatting with you!

 

[bdfive]

View attachment 1169315 View attachment 1169317

I mentioned Gunther getting rough with Gracie in the shallow water....only reason I want larger pond/trough....and feel they're happier. I don't want the female hurt with him trying to breed her in so little depth. Don't care if they can produce cygnets for reason of very few proper homes for them. LOL, I say that but OH MY GOODNESS, the babies are a delight. I'll post a picture of those I hatched out for the ranch of which I kept my 2.
YES, have seen the ritual many times and it's a sight to behold.
Asked swan rescue person what to do if not wanting eggs to hatch and she mentioned technique but didn't know it was called addling. Just looked it up...didn't realize it's done after embryo has formed. Ugh, see why you say it makes you cry but probably better then a bad life they may have to endure.
Do you have an opinion of how often I should change the 300 gallon trough being used for Gracie and Gunther? It's not large enough to put large fish in. They would eat small ones. Also would have to catch the fish when I pump the water out to replace with clean. I do intend to get a few koi once have a larger pond built with adequate filtration.
So good chatting with you!

Wanted to add I really don't want cygnets...just wanted companion for Gunther and wasn't sure he'd accept a male in his habitat. To be honest not sure I could addle an egg that is growing. Couldn't it be done before growth starts?

 

[josebeth1]

How about Ohio? It takes me a little less than 3 hours to get to Detroit

BTW- my dad was an old-time pigeon guy.....nice to see a kindred spirit!!

 

[birdmanmax]

Nice to meet you, thanks for the response! Well that works if you are ever in Michigan I live about an hour and thirty minutes from Detroit. So not a bad drive.

 

[birdmanmax]

Hey @Josebeth1 do you or will you ever sell some swan eggs? Just curious as I'll be in Ohio and Kentucky for the next few days.

 

[josebeth1]

Sadly, I just addled them yesterday. It is so hard for us to do this, but we will not allow any more to be born as long as there is not sure market for them, and for us a "sure" market means we can find homes for them with truly responsible and caring owners. In Ohio, any "free" mute swans that are found in public areas are quickly destroyed by our dept of fish & wildlife. Way too many people just let these guys breed, don't pinion wings, and let the cygnets fly free when they are of age to do so. There is no way I want to contribute to this sadness.

Now, if you're interested in a young female, we might want to talk. Or if you're close and you'd like to visit and learn more about swans, I would be more than happy to do that also if time permits. Feel free to pm me!

Beth

 

[birdmanmax]

Oh thanks but I was really looking for eggs as I probably cannot afford an adult.

 

[birdmanmax]

If you wouldn't mind letting me know if they lay another brood and if you'd be willing to sell them just let me know. They'd be pinned and be on a 100arce+ farm, we have raised geese, ducks, chickens, wild geese and ducks, pheasants both exotic and non-exotic, turkeys, quail, peafowl, and are on emus know.

 

[bdfive]

I wish there were more posts regarding pet swans. I have a Black Australian pair. Had to replace the first female. Believe she may have passed from being egg bound. Her replacement makes the biggest mess nights in their Safe (from predators) house/run. I so want to correspond with others having captive pet swans. I hatched 9 out of 11 swan eggs so that I know. They consisted of Mute and Black Australian. PLEASE, if you have pet swans in a backyard setting contact me.