"Feeding times" for Swans

[PekkaL84]

Hello from Tenerife. We run a small(ish) bird sanctuary here, mostly parrots (45 currently) but we have also taken in 2 female Black Swans and 3 Muscovy Ducks.

We kept salad available for the swans always 24/7, but since the muscovies arrived with their bottomless stomaches, this has been quite impossible. How do you guys feed your swans, do you keep food always available or do you have "feeding times"?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hello from Tenerife. We run a small(ish) bird sanctuary here, mostly parrots (45 currently) but we have also taken in 2 female Black Swans and 3 Muscovy Ducks.

We kept salad available for the swans always 24/7, but since the muscovies arrived with their bottomless stomaches, this has been quite impossible. How do you guys feed your swans, do you keep food always available or do you have "feeding times"?

View attachment 4039379View attachment 4039381View attachment 4039382

Beautiful birds you have there!

Are there fish in that pond?

This post sounds like theirs eat mostly stuff from the ponds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-is-a-good-diet-for-mute-swans.1647572/

I know @igorsMistress and @swampfox440 raise or raised swans and might be able to guide you a bit how to get around this.

 

[igorsMistress]

While I would love to help, I have ducks not swans.

 

[PekkaL84]

Beautiful birds you have there!

Are there fish in that pond?

This post sounds like theirs eat mostly stuff from the ponds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-is-a-good-diet-for-mute-swans.1647572/

I know @igorsMistress and @swampfox440 raise or raised swans and might be able to guide you a bit how to get around this.

Nope, no fish in this pond. Muscovys would eat them if they werent huge fish .. I know their diet, thats not an issue. I would just need to know do swans need food available literally 24/7, or do people have good experience with "feeding times" once or twice per day, or something similiar?

 

[Lovegeese]

Hello from Tenerife. We run a small(ish) bird sanctuary here, mostly parrots (45 currently) but we have also taken in 2 female Black Swans and 3 Muscovy Ducks.

We kept salad available for the swans always 24/7, but since the muscovies arrived with their bottomless stomaches, this has been quite impossible. How do you guys feed your swans, do you keep food always available or do you have "feeding times"?

View attachment 4039379View attachment 4039381View attachment 4039382

Swans will never "over eat". Unlike a labrador retriever There preferred food is SUV's. Sub aquatic vegetation. However, most ponds don't have enough of these to sustain even a smaller swan like the black australian let alone a mute or trumpeter. I always supplement feed my swans year round. A mixture of cracked corn, scratch grains and 16% chicken layer pellets. Mixed together it brings the protein level down to around 11%. Too much protein isn't good for their liver. I have a video on the type of feeder I use. Go to youtube and search grand swan farm. There is also an article on how to take care of swans here on backyard chickens

 

[PekkaL84]

Swans will never "over eat". Unlike a labrador retriever There preferred food is SUV's. Sub aquatic vegetation. However, most ponds don't have enough of these to sustain even a smaller swan like the black australian let alone a mute or trumpeter. I always supplement feed my swans year round. A mixture of cracked corn, scratch grains and 16% chicken layer pellets. Mixed together it brings the protein level down to around 11%. Too much protein isn't good for their liver. I have a video on the type of feeder I use. Go to youtube and search grand swan farm. There is also an article on how to take care of swans here on backyard chickens

Yup, but my issue is that our 2 swans are with 3 muscovy ducks.. and those dudes have bottomless stomachs.... So thats why i'm having a bit of "feeding time" issue currently ... If it was just the 2 swans, i could keep salad and veggies available 24/7

 

[PekkaL84]

Their diet is duck pellets/granules (in moderation), a lot of salad, cucumber, tomatoes, peas, carrots, corn etc (not same everyday)..

 

[Lovegeese]

Yup, but my issue is that our 2 swans are with 3 muscovy ducks.. and those dudes have bottomless stomachs.... So thats why i'm having a bit of "feeding time" issue currently ... If it was just the 2 swans, i could keep salad and veggies available 24/7

Since I only have one duck (Cayuga) with my swans, I didn't realize they are big eaters. I would suggest using the type of feeder that I recommend. It is a converted dog feeder that I mount on the edge of the pond attached to a piece of pipe with a "U" bolt. Having it attached to a U bolt allows me to adjust the height so the swans can get to it but too high for the ducks or geese. If your pond level varies during the year, you can simply change the height of the feeder. I have a YouTube video that has all the information you need to buy/install this feeder. Simply go to YouTube and search Grand Swan Farm. Hope this helps

 

[PekkaL84]

Since I only have one duck (Cayuga) with my swans, I didn't realize they are big eaters. I would suggest using the type of feeder that I recommend. It is a converted dog feeder that I mount on the edge of the pond attached to a piece of pipe with a "U" bolt. Having it attached to a U bolt allows me to adjust the height so the swans can get to it but too high for the ducks or geese. If your pond level varies during the year, you can simply change the height of the feeder. I have a YouTube video that has all the information you need to buy/install this feeder. Simply go to YouTube and search Grand Swan Farm. Hope this helps

Yea, this is kind of obvious solution. Ill just raise the swan cups higher so the ducks cant reach them. Thank you, i feel kind of stupid now

 

[lagrange chicks]

My Dad raised Trumpeter Swans and he feed at the same time everyday (after work). The swans were hungry and would keep the ducks and geese away until they were done. He feed duck grower with corn mixed in, they got greens thrown on the water when he had them.