What do you guys think about owning swans?

[Cassandragrenr]

I am sorry I didn't see this earlier my internet service was off for days. As for the question. I love my swans. As far as I am concerned swans are easy to take care of, they don't make much noise just an occasional huff when they greet you. I raise mute swans I have not raised any of the other types of swans so I can't say how vocal they are. I rehomed one last spring that was an old male I hated to see him go. They can be aggressive during the breeding season when they have eggs. If I have to get to the eggs, I have a pole with a pillow attached that they can attack and not injure themselves. Most of the time they are extremely docile and will sometimes eat out of you hand. I love swans! Don't ask me if I like my internet service, my answer will get me thrown offView attachment 3229507 BYC!

How do you keep them away from predators? Are there any eagles in your area?? And do they have a coop or something?? (thinking about getting swans, but I'm anxious about predatorsssssss)

 

[swampfox440]

How do you keep them away from predators? Are there any eagles in your area?? And do they have a coop or something?? (thinking about getting swans, but I'm anxious about predatorsssssss)

Hi, how are you Cassandra, I have my whole pond fenced in with 5' horse wire and electric fence running around on the outside of that it keeps out racoons and many others they have been on the pond for many years. Yes, we do have eagles they have never bothered my ducks or swans, I must add that the ponds are next to the house. I keep an aerator on the pond 24-7, it never freezes over in the winter. The swans have not had a coop in the past, but I am going to give them a coop before winter. I want to build a floating nest site also. I hope this helps.

 

[Cassandragrenr]

Hi, how are you Cassandra, I have my whole pond fenced in with 5' horse wire and electric fence running around on the outside of that it keeps out racoons and many others they have been on the pond for many years. Yes, we do have eagles they have never bothered my ducks or swans, I must add that the ponds are next to the house. I keep an aerator on the pond 24-7, it never freezes over in the winter. The swans have not had a coop in the past, but I am going to give them a coop before winter. I want to build a floating nest site also. I hope this helps.

Thank you!! I'm particularly anxious about the eagles in my area, I've heard from other swan owners that eagles have swept in a token the swan's head leaving the bodies. Which I don't want.
Though I'm unsure about how I'm gonna approach the problem, I live on an open field and there are constantly eagles over us. They've never gotten my ducks but they sure have tried!

Do you know anything about what the coop should look like? Should it be like other waterfowl coops?
Sorry for asking a ton of questions haha

 

[swampfox440]

Thank you!! I'm particularly anxious about the eagles in my area, I've heard from other swan owners that eagles have swept in a token the swan's head leaving the bodies. Which I don't want.
Though I'm unsure about how I'm gonna approach the problem, I live on an open field and there are constantly eagles over us. They've never gotten my ducks but they sure have tried!

Do you know anything about what the coop should look like? Should it be like other waterfowl coops?
Sorry for asking a ton of questions haha

Wow! that's a new one to me. Do you have a lot of eagles? I don't know how swans would live without a pond. I have two ponds and let one rest for a year or so at a time. This gives the weeds time to regrow and the swans love pond weeds. I also make sure they have plenty of grass to graze on. I move the fences when I think the grass or weed supply is getting low. It's better to ask ahead of time. I would never build a coop that is not big enough for you to stand in and a minimum of 8' x 8' x 8' for one pair. I know other swan owners that have made the coop three sided with the back facing the prevailing wind. Here it comes out of the Northwest. Most of the time they will not go in a coop. When it gets around -20F I have seen mine go in the chicken coop. They were not bothering each other so I let them stay.

 

[Cassandragrenr]

Wow! that's a new one to me. Do you have a lot of eagles? I don't know how swans would live without a pond. I have two ponds and let one rest for a year or so at a time. This gives the weeds time to regrow and the swans love pond weeds. I also make sure they have plenty of grass to graze on. I move the fences when I think the grass or weed supply is getting low. It's better to ask ahead of time. I would never build a coop that is not big enough for you to stand in and a minimum of 8' x 8' x 8' for one pair. I know other swan owners that have made the coop three sided with the back facing the prevailing wind. Here it comes out of the Northwest. Most of the time they will not go in a coop. When it gets around -20F I have seen mine go in the chicken coop. They were not bothering each other so I let them stay.

There are a ton of eagles, but I have no idea what kind.
Though I'd say my birds are quite aware of them and pretty amazing at preventing being... killed. And I have a couple of ideas on how to cover the pond. Trees, netting etc!
Do you think I'd be able to free-range the swans? I'd like to free-range them along with my ducks and geese, and I assume they'd catch on with predator honks (though my geese even see me as a threat, they're so lovely) I'm getting guinea fowls too, so I think they'd be safe or at least aware when a predator is nearby.
And with the coop, I think I've figured it out, my duck and geese coop is pretty large and I'd be able to home the swans in there. But it doesn't get as cold in the winter as it does for you!

 

[swampfox440]

I don't know about free ranging them.

 

[blklangshandude]

How much do swans cost? The investment would be my deciding factor. If you lose a few ducks, or a few chickens it’s not that big of a loss. I’m not sure about the price of turkeys, geese, or swans. I have seen some pretty high prices.