Some swan questions

[lakebirds]

whats a brooder? Do we need one?

 

[lakebirds]

http://www.strombergschickens.com/p...ter-Kit-Automatic-Egg-Turner/basic-incubators
Would this be a good buy?

 

[Rowsdower]

A brooder is just something to keep the chicks in once they have hatched, a box with a heat lamp works. That incubator looks fairly decent, but I am doubting that your swan eggs are going to fit in that turner.

 

[lakebirds]

Is the incubator good enough for that price with the things included even if I may or may not use the turner? I can turn them by hand right?

 

[Rowsdower]

You can buy one a lot more cheaply if you buy the extra stuff separately. If you aren't hatching tons of chicks you aren't going to need all of those waterers/feeders. And the little jar waterers are mostly for small game birds, quail, etc. And I am sure that the information in the included booklets can be found in much greater detail here on the forums.

 

[lakebirds]

thank you. Do you know an incubator you would recommend

 

[SwanMom]

We feed our swans cracked corn. Swans eat greens - plants along the shore, or you can give then lettuce. You can also give them swan pellets and cornmeal. I have also found this.

 

[SwanMom]

remainder of previous reply:

http://www.howtoraiseswans.com/?hop=0&gclid=CMmWiYrpvZ0CFVRc2godeC2Ktw
Book for sale by breeder
Andrew Grey is the author of "The Essential Beginners Guide To Raising Swans". If you would like to learn more about how to raise swans, visit: http://www.howtoraiseswans.com.

 

[bdfive]

remainder of previous reply: http://www.howtoraiseswans.com/?hop=0&gclid=CMmWiYrpvZ0CFVRc2godeC2Ktw Book for sale by breeder
Andrew Grey is the author of "The Essential Beginners Guide To Raising Swans". If you would like to learn more about how to raise swans, visit: http://www.howtoraiseswans.com.

My question about this book would be is the information for those that have large ponds and lakes or for those of us that need to use 300 to 1000 gallon water troughs. I'm trying to decide now about an enclosed area with water that is feasible on our 5 acres. We're near a year round creek so have numerous predators. My precious 12 year old peacock was killed early morning or just before dark a couple days ago and almost completely eaten. He could have been disturbed from his night roost high up in one of the old growth Live Oak Trees by coon or owl and killed once he was on the ground. I found him after dark with a flashlight searching the 5 acres on our golf cart. He wasn't up in the tree, hadn't touched his feed and wasn't calling so knew something was very wrong. Coyotes are horrible this year and being seen during the day. One horse ranch has had Wildlife Department set snares on their property due to coyote attackes on young horses. I'd thought perhaps my pair of Black Swans could have access to our fenced 5 acres but that's impossible with present predatation problems in this area. We also have some bobcats and an occasional mountain lion. I'm supposing I'll be creating a way to keep grass growing in their habitat or spend a fortune on store bought greens. Can anyone suggest the size a enclosed area can be for a pair of swans? 10 by 30 feet? 20 by 30 feet? 30 by 50 feet? I'm assuming the larger the better but making it completely safe may be cost prohibitive so a little over just big enough is in my thoughts. Anyone????? Thanks for any input........I'm at a loss finding information about aviaries for swans. My 2 different age swans, Gunther, 15 weeks old and Gracie, 6 weeks old are doing well together and forming a strong bond. I have to watch them pretty close due to the difference in sizes but Gunther seems to sense his need to be careful around Gracie. They are in an 8 by 28 foot ultra safe pen that's 9 feet high and partially roofed with rest covered with welded wire so nothing can getting in to harm them. Gunther needs more room and he's outgrown the small kiddie pool so need to get a larger one but trying to figure out how to easily get enough water out of it. Suggestions? Don't know the measurments but have an area picked out where I'm hoping the swans can live. We've removed huge embedded ground rocks but our tractor can't get the rest so am trying to find contractor with a backhoe to remove the remaining dozen or so. They don't seem interested in such a small job. I won't be able to completely cover such a large area so thinking I'll have a smaller area completely enclosed including roof for them to go in nights. Raccoons could get in the large part of the aviary during the day by using trees but I doubt that will happen. They are mostly always out at night. Thanks for reading my thoughts and slap hazard plans, LOL!!! Any input will be much appreciated. I think I'm finished crying over my beautiful Einstein being killed. After I found him I set a trap in the dark sobbing the whole time, tears soaking my shirt and screaming in anger. Morning brought revenge but not sure the huge raccoon was the culprit. I believe a coyote killed him. My baby monitor is picking up all kinds of sounds outside now. I'd probably be shocked to know how many predators go through our property nights. We have a fairly decent fence but it's near impossible to keep them out unless a high end fence is installed with a lot of thought to making it impenetrable. That would cost a fortune for 5 acres. Our peacock aviary is that way and the fence around our house is semi.

 

[SwanMom]

bdfive, I'm sorry to hear about your peacock. We lost our cygnet sometime after 7 pm last night. Albert & Victoria showed up at our dock this morning childless.

It doesn't take long for the feathered friends to take space in our hearts so I can well imagine your sense of loss. Your pen sounds well designed and I'm not sure that I have much else to add. Keep us posted on how Gunther and Gracie are doing.

Lake Morton has swan holding pens used each year for the roundup prior to the veterinarian's health check of the birds.
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc69691.php

Here are some pictures of swan pens
http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/Problems.shtml#PhotoPen

This is more information on swan pens.
http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/cgi-bin/ask/index.pl?read=8686
http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/cgi-bin/ask/index.pl?read=5701

Michigan has set standards for swan enclosures.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/CAPTIVE_190659_7.html