To Shelter or Not in Winter. 
Or at Other Times of the Year.

TO SHELTER Swans or NOT to SHELTER Swans.

            CLICK Images to ENLARGE

SHELTERING your SWANs and CYGNETs is a JUDGMENT Call.

IF your Local Area is Expecting EXTREME or DANGEROUS Weather
Have a Plan to Shelter or Protect your Swans from Harm.

Prepare for the Worst Weather Conditions. 
Enjoy the Best Days with your Swans.

SHELTER – A BASIC DEFINITION

NOUN – A Place giving Temporary Protection from Bad Weather or Danger.
A Shield from something Harmful.

VERB – Protect, Shield, Screen, Cover, Shade, Save, Safeguard,
Preserve, Defend, Cushion, Guard, Insulate.

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To Shelter has so many Meanings..
I think of the many things we do to Protect – Shelter ourselves.
Homes, Garages, Barns, Sheds, Porches, a Lean-To, a Roof,Walls, Doors, Windows, etc.

Swans Naturally do NOT Like to be inside any Structure.

The first Year of Swan Care is a BIG Learning Curve.
For the YOU and the Swans, Especially for Young Cygnets.
We have been doing this over 10-15 Years (2019) during the Winter Months.
Some were Feral Swans along the River.. Mostly for our Captive Pet Swans.

I have Worried and Planned.. and Worried.. and taken Steps to keep
our Swans as Safe and Happy during the Winter as I Possibly can.
I Plan for the WORST Conditions. And Enjoy the Best of Winter.

So Far, we have NOT lost any Swans to Nasty Winter Weather.
Nor to any Predators. We have been Lucky.. (Knock on Wood)
We have Lost Swans.. Sadly YES. Heart Breaking.

Doing this Project and Arranging Swan Connections..
I have heard some very Sad News.. Deaths due to Frozen Ponds..
and Unseen Night Predators.. Snapping Turtles..
SNAPPING TURTLEs are NASTY BEASTs
https://swanlovers.net/category/snapping-turtles-nasty-beasts/

Too many Sad Stories..  Too many Lost to Unknown Causes. 

It is a Challenge to Keep Swans Safe..
So, if what I have Learned..might help other..
I want to share.. Especially to those new to Swan Care.

Swans look Fragile – Delicate… They look like Expensive Plush Toys
Gliding with Elegance on the Calm Mirrored Waters of a Pond or Lake.

Healthy Swans are Surprisingly Durable..Every Place is Different.. and Swans will Adapt Differently.

To Plan for a Shelter.. is a Judgement Call…
Every Environment is Different.. the Risk Factors are Different..
This Topic Page is meant to Aid you Evaluating your Place.
Then make Plans that you are Comfortable with..

 Try to have the Swans Floating over Water that is at Least 4 Feet Deep.
  It would be Difficult for most Predators to Reach them.
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Wild Waterfowl will use their Wings to Fly away from Danger
or to Seek Open Water when your Pond is Covered with Ice.

Since Capture Swans are Pinioned or Clipped, they can not Fly Away from
Danger or Fly to Open Water. A Common Plan is to THINK Shelter..

IF You are Willing to Construct a Shelter for Your New Swans..
First LOOK at your Whole Picture.. and what you know about your
General Climate, Water Environment and Predator Population..

In PA, I hear more and more Accounts of Eastern Coyotes – CoyWolves..
These Large Wild Canine may travel in Packs.. may Stalk-Hunt
during the Day Hours. They have been responsible for too many Loses
of Domestic Swans, Geese and Ducks..

Swans, especially the Trumpeters and Mutes do NOT like (HATE)
being confined in a Building or Shelter – they feel TRAPPED.

The Main Way Swans Protecting themselves is with their Wings.
Buildings have Corners and Limited Space. In a Structure it is
TOO easy for them to become Cornered-Trapped.

In a Building Swans can not Spread their Wings to (BEAT)
“FLOGGING” and Drive Off Predators, which is their Primary
Defense. They have NO Teeth and very little Bite Pressure..

During the Cold Months when the Temperature drop below Freezing,
Captive Swans NEED to be in Liquid Water to keep Warm.

Inside a Structure they are Out of the Direct Weather, Cold Wind or Rain..
But, depending the Air Temperature it may still be VERY Cold.. TOO Cold.

The last several Winters, we have had Periods of VERY Bitter Cold Days and 
Nights.  Temperatures WELL into the Minus Degrees. 
Conditions that Worry MANY Folks with Ponds and Domestic Waterfowl… 
“TO Shelter or Not to Shelter…” that is the Question I get.

A Fluffy Pile of Fresh Straw.. (NO Hay) can provide a Place to Snuggle in.
If Straw is not available Old Blankets or Towels to Snuggle into will Help..
Keep their Feet off a Hard, Frigid Floor.

I have Never used Hay for Bedding..  TOO Risky.. Too much Mildew-Mold.
There is an increased Risk of Diseases, such as aspergillosis, caused by exposure to Moulds.

I have Never used Wood Shavings..  TOO Much Dust..  Read Article Below.

https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/08/straw-vs-shavings-my-choice-for-coop.html

Basic Water Tubs will Freeze..

Heat Lamps make me NERVOUS !!  Use with Great Care… 
Chances are you will not have Fire Detection in your Out Buildings.

452 Best Heat Lamp Fire Images in 2019 / Inside Chicken Coops
https://www.pinterest.com/TheChicknChick/heat-lamp-fires/

Basic 80 to 100 Watt Light Bulbs will help to Warm the Still Air in a Building.

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Predators tend to be Animals with Claws and Sharp Teeth..
Swans only have the Power Stroke of their Wings to Defend.

But, Swans are Always at a Disadvantage & at Risk when
there are Humans intent to Harm them.

You know if you have a Predator Problem. That will need to be Factored
into your Swan Care Plan.  I do know several Swan Owners that keep their Swans inside every Night. Making sure they are Secure with a Sturdy Door..

Opened in the Morning..
All Food Removed from the Pond at SunSet.

Having to Clean-up for these LARGE Messy Birds is an Extra Chore.
If they can be Safely Cared-for out on their Pond – your Life will be Easier.

Ponds with an Isolated Island have a Safer Place for Nesting in the
Spring, Roasting-Resting in the Summer and Fall Months.

Sitting out on these Islands will not keep them Warm in the Winter
Months, they will be Subject to the Air Temperature.

Plan ahead to Equipping your Pond with DeIcing Equipment.
Keeping an Area Open that is over Water at least 4 Feet Deep..
is where Waterfowl will Generally be Safe and Happy.
There are always Exceptions.. I have Never had to deal with a Bear..

WE Make sure our Swans have a Winter Wake.. And so Far,
the Swans we care for have been fine for 9 Winters Outside..Every Day they are OK.. I count my Blessings.
We keep a Back-Up Plan Ready… just in case..

IF the Electric Power goes OUT during a Nasty Winter Storm,
will you have a Back-up Plan ????

WINTER CARE for Swans Has more General Info..
https://swanlovers.net/category/winter-care-for-swans/

Liquid Water is NEVER Colder then 33 Degrees.. (there are exception.)
Healthy Waterfowl are VERY Well Insulated. All the Preening
you see them doing, is to Condition their Feathers for this Reason..
Having Adequate, Proper Food Daily gives them the Calories they need for Quick Energy.

Watch for Shivering.       A Little should be OK..
Shivering more then a few Minutes will Drain Energy too Quickly.
They are not Coping with the Cold.
The Wind Chill may be what is too Much for them to Deal with..
It may be Wise to take the Swans inside and let them Rest for a while..Check their Weight.. They may be Underweight and Need Shelter..

Healthy Swans generally do Fine in a Winter Wake.

The only Swans I have seen use Shelter in Cold Weather willingly,
are the smaller Black Necked and Black Australian Swans.

Once they go inside – the Door must be secured for the Night
and then Opened again in the early Morning.
All Swans are VERY MESSY…LOTs of POOP.
Life is easier if they stay on their Pond.

Putting either an OLD Plastic Shower Curtain, OR Large Trash Bags.
or a Thick Plastic Drop Cloth or a Cheap Tarp on the Ground, Decking,
Concrete Surfaces is a Barrier to help with Clean-up and avoid Staining.
Any Place the Swans would be Pooping.. and Spilling Food..

Then LAYERs of NewsPaper with a Flake of Straw spread about for a Soft
Substrate. You want to keep their Webbed Feet off the Hard Floor.
The Layers of NewsPaper let you just ROLL-up Most of the Straw..

Putting your Swans in a Barn, Shed or Garage Check for Hazards.
Sharp Objects, Glass, thing that Might Fall, Places to get Stuck in.

If Swans get Bored, they will get into Trouble.

Check if they could Reach any Broken Windows.
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Cygnets with Parents to Raise them Generally Live on their Pond.
Young Cygnets are VERY Vulnerable to Hawks, Owls, Snapping Turtles..
It will increase their Survival to Hand-Raising them.. Sad, but True.
This means without their Parents.   
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When Hand Raising Cygnets.. (without Parents)
Tiny Cygnets need Supervision when out in Yard or Pool during the Day.
They NEED to be Sheltered until they are at least 6 Pounds..
And after that depending on your Predator Population.

       Except for Hawks, we had a Low Risk of Predators in our Back Yard.
Hand Raised First Year Cygnets will March into a Structure for
Safety and Shelter every Night, Once It is their Regular Routine.

Healthy Cygnets 4 Months Old (12 to 20 Pounds) may do Very Well
over Deep Water at Night.
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Swans Generally do not Eat a Night..
unless there is a Pecking-Order Problem.
It can be a Safety Factor to take their Feed inside at Night..
This will Reduce Small Night Rodents which in turn may Attract
the Larger Predators..

Plus, Small Rodents, Chipmunks, Mice, Rats, Squirrels, Moles, Voles, Groundhogs, Opossums, Skunks, Muskrats, ETC, Etc, etc.. may carry Diseases in their Poop and Saliva.

These Sneaky Nocturnal Rodents Love Raiding your Swans Food Containers at Night.

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There are a few Situations when Sheltering is Safer for Waterfowl..

A Hurricane BLOWING Through is a Good Reason to Shelter Swans.
We have Rescued Several Lost-Wayward Swans after High Wind Storms.. Mostly Full-Wings..
Full Wing Swans may take to Air and be Blown Far Away from their Homes.
Spring and Summer Storms can Fuss-up Quickly..  What to Do ??
If there is a Storm with HIGH Winds.. and or HAIL..  OR ICE…    Maybe ???
A Forecast for a Severe Lightning Storm. 

There will likely not be enough Time to Safely do Anything.. 
Be Aware, Waterfowl can be Electrocuted from a Close Lightning Strike.  Rare but Possible.             Here Weigh Human Safety vs. Swan Safety.

In the 15 Years we have been Involved with Swans, I only know
ONE that was Killed in a Summer Storm.  A Pair of Swans were put in a Shed to Protect them during a Nasty Storm.  Sadly, a Tree Fell on the Shed and Killed the Female.   So Sad… 
 AGAIN a Judgment Call..

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Another Time a Shelter is Necessary..
is to Recover an Injured, Weak – Swan whose Health is Compromised.
When Wound Bandages need to be kept Dry..
and Medications are Prescribed.  It is GOOD to have a Plan Ready.  Inside – Inside Kennel Fencing – in a Dog House..  Resting and Healing.
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Some People like to Keep a New Swan inside a Safe Place for a few Day..
For an Adjustment to a New Home.
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Shelter can be Shade where there is Lots of Summer Sun..
and few Natural Shade Structures like Trees or Shrubs.
Pond Water in Full Sun can become HOT..
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Another GOOD Reasons to have a Shelter..
For Protection during Nesting – Especially with Two Female Pairings.
They have NO Male to Protect them.
Two Females are Very Vulnerable – Nest Mortality is HIGH.
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Nesting Swans like a Solid Structure on One Side of their Nest.
A Hill, Bank, Thick Tree Trunk, Fence.. or a Wall ..
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Few Swans want to Nest inside a Structure.. a Few Might.

Black Australian Swans will Nest Inside.. Frequently.Calf Hutches might be used..  They have NO Door ..
You will need to Improvise.

Always Secure the Opening for the Over Night Hours.Personally, I do not think Plywood and Cinder Blocks are Adequate.

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A Shelter might be needed to Move Swans to a Safe Place
if there are any Dangerous Chemicals released to their Water Environment.
Unexpected Chemical or Oil Spills do Happen..
The Pond above is a Reservoir Impoundment along a small Stream that Flows through several Housing Developments.  Around 150 Homes are up Stream.  People along the Stream can dump almost anything into the Water that Flows past the Swans.  ALL Lawn Care Chemicals will Drain to Pond.

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If the Water becomes too Toxic due to Organic Decay..
or INCREASED Pathogenic Bacteria Concentrations.
Foul Smelling Pond Water when Stagnant during Drought.

OR if there is a Disease to Protect the Swans from during
Migration Season.. Listen to News Reports.. Or Check with
State Agriculture Website.. for Updates on Avian Diseases.
They may Advice Sheltering your Domestic Waterfowl and Poultry.
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There are some Reasons for Shelters that I have likely forgotten to List.
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There are Not Any 100% Correct Reasons for Sheltering..

There are so many Variables.. these are ALL Judgement Calls.
You must Decide how Your Environment may affect your Swans
Safety.. Comfort and Both your Happiness..
And YOUR Worry Factor..  How Worried are You ? ? ?

PLAN AHEAD….  Instead of Panicking.

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God made Little Creatures SO Cute..so we will take care of them despite the Mess.. (-;
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This is a Work In Progress.                                                                February 2019
COMPILED by SwanLover Linda
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SHELTERs COME in MANY Forms.