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
Thank you SwanMom, I do miss Einstein so much. Have spent every day with him for many years always making sure he has fresh water, feed and healthy treats. He loved grapes. Ugh, don't want to start crying.
The links of information you provided are very much appreciated. I see information in them I've not been able to find. Reading about pen/aviary size is a relief. I'm happy to say the 2 locations I'm considering are larger then required. I 've decided to use a 300 gallon Rubbermaid water trough that is 2 feet deep for now but after necessary research regarding filtering, etc may go to a ground pond. Problem with the trough is ramping it so they can get in. I need it above ground to be able to open the drain on the side toward the bottom. Are they any suggestions you can give me? Also don't need the sliding over the rim where there is no ramp falling to the ground. Would be nice to have a deck all the way around it but there is no solution as good as them to be able to naturally walk on gently sloped ground into the water.
Getting daylight....need to go open the gate. Have contractor coming to give me estimate on removing huge embedded rocks with a backhoe. Our tractor has removed what it's capible of.