Swans

ColacWaterfowl · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:03 pm

JB Farm wrote:

Domestic kept swans do not fly they will be pinioned so they cannot fly away so you do not need 40 or even 20 meters. A normal size pond on 4 or 5 meters by 2 or 3 meter is enough for 1 pair

Exactly

Barbara47 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:47 am **Posts:** 17

That's good to know, thanks for the info...so much for what you read online!
So this being the case, what sort of shelter/pen do you need to provide for protection from fox and dingo/wild dog attack?

JB Farm · **Joined:** Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:09 pm **Posts:** 3

Cygnets stay indoors until they are fully grown or at least just day trips to the dam. As for adults well a fox would have a hard time with one I have never heard of a fox taking one but a wild dog is another matter. If you have that problem then have a night pen for them that is secure and only let them out in daylight hours, swans rarely go to far from water as their safety net so any sign on trouble and they are in the water and believe me they move quick when they want to

okgeese · **Joined:** Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:47 am **Posts:** 1

JB are the swans a slow grower? I have been told they take 4 years to mature?????? is that right??????

Barbara47 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:47 am **Posts:** 17

JB...sorry to bombard you with questions but...we've constructed a floating nesting box (wooden dog house with flotation) that can be anchored in the middle of the dam. Would this keep them safe without closing the up at night? We've had no problems with preditors of any kind but that might be because everything we have is in an enclosure every night. My concern in getting swan and needing to close them up every night is their "moods" during mating season. We REALLY want swans but want to be fair to the birds in providing proper habitat. Thanks

JB Farm · **Joined:** Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:09 pm **Posts:** 3

They do prefer hard ground to the island idea but that is a good one and I know one bloke has tried it but with no success. If you use food as a mean to get them back in then if should be fairly easy BUT as you rightly mentioned the breeding aggression can be full on. My mate has an old pair that he has train well but the Cob is so placid and the pen just follows the cobs lead which is not that common and they are in the pen [cage] and waiting for him usually

Barbara47 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:47 am **Posts:** 17

LOL thanks, we built the " goose boat" for our geese but the breeder recommended locking them up instead....thought it might make a nice "swan boat" but guess all that engineering we did on getting it to float correctly will just be a fun way to have spent the weekend with the hubby! Thanks again

fowlsslave · **Joined:** Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:49 pm **Posts:** 1

I would love to get a swan as a pet can they be hand tamed?

DaveyD · **Joined:** Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:47 pm **Posts:** 1

Yes but they are aggressive in breeding so be careful if you have a pair they can really damage a finger

wooza · **Joined:** Sun Feb 24, 2013 10:23 am **Posts:** 1

I am looking at a swan for a pet but not sure its such a good idea

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