Hello! This will have to start with some context...
Our neighborhood hosts two large ponds, one with property owned by my family. About twenty years ago, the neighbor who owned the other pond bought and hand-raised a breeding pair of pinioned trumpeter cygnets. As adult swans, they stayed at the pond and had cygnets of their own, but the female and her cygnets were unfortunately killed off over the years by some predator. (We suspect snapping turtles or weasels got the young ones, and possibly a coyote for the mother) I only met the swan after his widowing, but the swan grew to "trust" me after feeding it for a while. He was 18 years old when he died after breaking his leg and being preyed on by a coyote.
Since the swan died, the neighborhood has made more efforts to eradicate coyotes and snapping turtles. Last year, they killed more than 11 coyotes and have caught many snapping turtles.
After about 2 or 3 years of no swans, I saw a wild one swimming in our pond. It made me think about the possibilities of getting swans again, but I would have to be the one to raise them. I wanted to ask some questions about them here.
What level of experience does it take to raise swans? I've raised many ducks and chickens into adulthood, but in what ways are swans similar/different? Are they hard to maintain? Where do you get swans?
I'd be willing to give more security to a new pair of swans. I could fence in a spot on the shore so they could have somewhere to safely sleep.
I'd like to know your opinion. Thanks for reading.
Our neighborhood hosts two large ponds, one with property owned by my family. About twenty years ago, the neighbor who owned the other pond bought and hand-raised a breeding pair of pinioned trumpeter cygnets. As adult swans, they stayed at the pond and had cygnets of their own, but the female and her cygnets were unfortunately killed off over the years by some predator. (We suspect snapping turtles or weasels got the young ones, and possibly a coyote for the mother) I only met the swan after his widowing, but the swan grew to "trust" me after feeding it for a while. He was 18 years old when he died after breaking his leg and being preyed on by a coyote.
Since the swan died, the neighborhood has made more efforts to eradicate coyotes and snapping turtles. Last year, they killed more than 11 coyotes and have caught many snapping turtles.
After about 2 or 3 years of no swans, I saw a wild one swimming in our pond. It made me think about the possibilities of getting swans again, but I would have to be the one to raise them. I wanted to ask some questions about them here.
What level of experience does it take to raise swans? I've raised many ducks and chickens into adulthood, but in what ways are swans similar/different? Are they hard to maintain? Where do you get swans?
I'd be willing to give more security to a new pair of swans. I could fence in a spot on the shore so they could have somewhere to safely sleep.
I'd like to know your opinion. Thanks for reading.
