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BEFORE YOU LET GO.. Releasing New Swans to your WaterWay. ***These are just Suggestions: For you to Think About.
When we were First Caring for Swans, it was a BIG Learning Curve. There were SO Many Things we did not Know.. It was SWAN 101 After Many Years and Many Swans, we are Still Learning..
THIS may be the Only Time you will have to Check the General Health/Condition of your New Swan. OR This is a GOOD Time to have a General Check-up by an Avian Veterinarian.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KNOW AN AVIAN VETERINARIAN Who will See Your Swans !
Whether you Acquire-Adopt a Swan from a Farmer, Breeder, Private BackYard Pond or a Rescue Group.. Swans may have Injuries or Conditions that you should be Aware of.. Many Minor Conditions are Correctable.
*** CHECKING BASIC HEALTH AND CONDITION: Be Gentle, Talk Softly, be CALM.. BE SURE YOU HAVE CONTROL of the New Swan. (Two People)
Check for any Bleeding.. Cuts. STOP ANY Bleeding ! DO NOT RELEASE A SWAN that is Bleeding ! !
A Broken Blood Feather should be Pulled.. For Minor Injuries. Apply a Little Triple Antibiotic Ointment. For ANY Large Injury.. Ask a Veterinarian’s Advise.
As you Look from Head to Tail to Toe Claws… Make sure there are NO Strings, Tape, .. Fishing Line.. HOOKs ! !
>>> Check that any Leg Band is NOT TOO Tight. ETC.. REMOVE and/and or REPLACE .. if Becoming Tight.. You SHOULD be Able to Put your Little Finger Inside the Band.
REMOVE Anything that should NOT be Attached.
Gentle Pressure on each side of Mouth Hinge will Open Beak. Check Under the Tongue – it should be a Nice Baby Pink. If the Tongue is Light- Pale to Creamy-White Suspect Anemia.
Poor Diet may be the Cause.. YOU Can Correct with Proper Feeding
Parasites are a Common Reason for Anemia.. ASK VET to CHECK. A Fresh Stool Sample for Intestinal Parasites.
Internal and External Parasites are Common to Waterfowl. It is a Good Idea to have Your Swans Treated for Parasites.
You Might Start by Taking a Fresh Stool Sample to your Vets to be Checked. CALL For Instructions.
ALL Birds have Lice.. If there are LOTs of Body Lice.. Take Action. A Heavy Infestation of these Blood Sucking Insects will Cause Anemia. (Most Do not Infest People)
When you Look down into the Feathers you will see MANY Tiny Brown-Black Insects Scurry through the Down.. The Example Below is Severely Infested.
If the Tiny Lice are Hard to Find.. Should be OK… Good Clean Water will Help the Swan WASH these Away.
Bathing and Preening Healthy Swans Control the Lice Numbers.
For a Heavy Infestation.. We Spray Under the Wings and Down the Back with Dilute Peppermint Oil. > > > 3-4 Drops of the Peppermint Oil in a Pint of Fresh Water.
OR An Organic Pet Spray.. Containing Safe Oils..
Do NOT Spray their HEAD or EYEs.. The Swan will Preen the Oil through their Feathers.
The Peppermint Oil will not Kill the Lice.. The Lice do not like the Peppermint Odor and JUMP OFF..
Check the Vent/Cloaca.. if there is a Crusty Yuck.. Not just Poop from being in the Transport Carrier..
Gently Wash with * Room Temp Water.. If the Cloaca looks Sore or Swollen.. Ask your Vet for Recommendations..
Check for an Impaction under the Tongue… if Present – Remove. These lift out. Gently push up under Chin.. LIFT OUT. (Discard) These are Wads of Tough Grass Fibers, Mud, Sand, Tiny Stones. They cause a Bulge under the Chin. These are NOT Tumors. If these Impactions get TOO Large, it makes Swallowing Difficult.
Look at Both Eyes – They should look Healthy, no Sores or Swollen Tissues or Cloudiness.
Some Swans have very Pink Conjunctiva and this will show around the Eye. This is Normal as long as it is not Swollen.
When the Swan Blinks, you will see the “Third Eye Lid.” The Nictitating Membrane Closes during Flight to Protect their Eyes. It also Closes when they are Grazing under the Water.
Check the Wings that they are OK. No Strange Bends or Trauma. A few Damaged Feathers are to be Expected. If any Feathers are Bleeding Pull them OUT.
Check the Wing that is Pinioned. Be sure One is. Note Which. I Get Calls from Anguished Swan Folks that their New Swan Flew Away ! ! They were TOLD the Swan was Pinioned. OOPs !!!
If not Pinioned: Clip Most of the Primary Flight Feathers..ONE WING ! (Unless done) to keep the Swan from Flying off. Grounded
*** BE SURE YOU Know when to Clip/when to Pull. NEVER Cut a Feather with Blood in the Shaft – Pull it. Clipping/Pulling is only a Temporary Grounding Method.
New Flight Feathers will Grow-in Over Time and Your Beautiful Swan may just Fly Away on a Breezy Day ! !
It is WISE to Purchase Swans that are Properly Pinioned. When Possible. Full-Wing Swans also Need Homes.. If you are Willing to Keep them Grounded.
Check Legs… any ID Leg Bands… Record Information. Make sure the ID Band is NOT TOO TIGHT ! If you are Planning to place a Leg Band or Wing ID Clip .. DO it NOW. Having Some ID on your Swans – Especially New Ones.. A Bright Colored Cable Tie. RED is Easy to See.
Having a Leg Band HELPs if you need to Look for a Wandering Escapee. Hopefully, if Someone Else Finds your Swans they will Know it is a PET.. > > > and NOT a Feral – Rogue Swan to be Destroyed.
OR Put some GREEN Magic Marker on WING FEATHERS. Stay with the New Swan the First Day… CHECK OFTEN.. Just in Case the Swan would Leave.. YOU Need to Prove it is a Pet.
A Chaperon Fence for a Few hours.. Help New Swans to Settle in..
(Some Breeder/Owners have “Micro Chips” put in.. by their Veterinarian.) I would not be Surprised in the Future to learn Tiny GPS Devices may be used to help locate Domestic Swans. Some Day… as this Technology becomes more Available..
Look at the Feet.. any Cuts..?? Damage ?? Missing Claws.??
Check the Heels and Bottoms of their Big Webbed Feet. Look for Bumble Foot Sores.
These may Need to be Treated. DO NOT IGNORE these Sores.
Feel Under the Breast Curve toward the Abdomen. The Keel Bone should not be Prominent, when a Swan’s Weight is OK. The Breast Muscles should be even or a little Rounded..
It is Good to See Water Beading on the Feather.. Water Proofing Looks Good.
The Cygnet Below has Lost most of his WaterProofing. He will Chill Easily.. you may see Shivering. May NEED Sheltering on Cold Days and Nights. Daily Bathing and Preening will Help to Restore the WaterProofing.
When the Keel Bone is Prominent/Protrudes the Swan is Underweight.
Minor Conditions will Correct with Time and Good Care.
This is a GOOD Time to give at least One Dose of Worming Medication. You might consider taking a Fresh Stool Sample for an Ova & Parasite Evaluation. -The Fresher the Better.
Watch for ANYTHING to MOVE in their Stool. You DO NOT Want to Introduce an Unknown Problem to your Environment. The LIST of Possible Parasites is TOO Long for this Topic Page. Swans can become Infected with the Same Heart Worms Folks Treat their Dogs for. Humm.. Think about Annual Check and Treatment if Needed.
For One Move of our Swans: They had been Spending Time on a Pond that had been used for 30 Years for Shot Gun Hunting of Ducks and Geese.
I KNOW how the Swans like to Dig into the Mud for Tiny Insects and Tender Plants.. They can Easily Ingest Shot Gun Pellets. A Potential of Lead Poisoning.
I Arranged for a Veterinary Visit between Ponds when we Moved them..
AND had all of them XRayed to Check for any Metal in their Gizzard. Lead Shot will not Pass through their Intestines. Metal Stays in their Gizzard and Slowly Dissolves Poisoning them..
They were Treated for External and Internal Parasites, Oral and Injections..
YEAH ! ! NO LEAD SHOT.. OFF to their New Pond..
***These are just Suggestions: For you to Think About.
If your Swan came Across State Lines.. or by Air Shipping.. If there is a “Health Certificate” and/or DNA-Sex Certificate keep these with other Papers about the New Swan. Where the Swan Came from, Age… etc. Years from now, you may want to know these things.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& This is a Work in Progress. Organized – UpDated (c) May 2021 Linda M. Sweger – PA SwanLover Linda &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Checking Your Area for an Avian Veterinarian. Do This Before you Need them !!! AVIAN and EXOTIC VETERINARIANS.. ARE Unpredictable.
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I am Always Happy to Talk with Folks who are Concerned for their Swans. But, I have a Limit in what I can Do. I do NOT have any Veterinary Training..
Basically, if a Swan is Showing Signs of Illness.. Acting Different.. Not Eating, Yes, they may be Very Sick.. You know Something is Wrong.
There is NO Way to just GUESS a Diagnosis.. or a Course of Treatment.
It is SO Important when Folks have Waterfowl.. Any Waterfowl.. to Know a Veterinarian that will See them ASAP.. So, Time is NOT Wasted making Lots of Phone Calls trying to Arrange an Appointment..
Trying to Guess what Might be Ailing your Swan Delays getting Help and any Treatment that is Effective..
There are Hundreds of Possible Reasons your Swan may NEED to be Seen by a Trained Professional..
Gather your Observations, take Photos or Video of Symptoms.. and Contact a Vet that Treats Birds and/or Exotic Animals.
I Wish I had a Crystal Ball and a Magic Wand.. But these Special Powers are NOT Granted to me. I will Not try to Guess.. Your Swans Need Responsible Professional Help.
I will Always be Happy to Share Information.. Suggest when it is Important to Seek Professional Veterinary Care. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Click Images to Enlarge.
I Believe Back Ground Information is Warranted – Bare with me. I am Going to Summarize “some” of our Swan Saga-History.. How Unprepared we were as we Entered the World of Swans. For Three Captivating Years, we had become Enamored with the Feral Mute Swans that were Living along our Local River System.
Most Days we Packed our Van with Swan Supplies and Headed Up River to Spend Hours Enjoying the River Environment while Visiting with them. The Swans were Living in an Approximate Six Square Mile Area. They were Essential Living Free and Wild. Each of the Swans had Come to the River at a Different Times.I tried not to Name them. Hence the Names: “Pretty Girl,” “Handsome Fellow” and “Sweet Harmony.”
“Pretty Girl” was a Back Yard Pet Discarded to the River in 2000. “Handsome Fellow” Flew into the River from “Out of the Blue” the Summer of 2005. “Sweet Harmony” Floated Down River from an Unknown Place the Summer of 2006.
Rob and I spent so much Time with these Swans that we felt like they were Sorta Ours. Observing the Swans Interact with Each Other and us.. was SO Intriguing.. My Knowledge of Mute Swans and their Care was limited to the Little Bit of Information I had been able to Read onLine. A Few Paragraphs here and there.. Many WebSites were “Word for Word” Cut and Paste Basic Facts..
There was NOT Much about Caring for Swans.. just some Basics.. We were Learning about the Swans.. One Day at a Time.
OnLine, I had been Reading about the General “Legal Status” of the Mute Swans.. All the Legal Debates “For and Against” the Mute Swans did not seem Real.. Rob said, “You can not Believe Everything you Read onLine.”
I Kept Reading as New Articles were Posted. The Humane Society of the United States ( HSUS ) , Friends of Animals ( FOA ).. and Atlantic Flyway Council.. were Competing to “Save or Kill” All the Mute Swans in the United States.
The Legal Branch of the Mute Swans’ Story is Too Involved to Recount here. It has been an Evolving Mess.. of Slaughter and Public Push-Back.
At some Point in ca. 2007-08, the Federal Courts Decided to Allow each State to made their own Laws, Rules, Restrictions, Policies and Management Plans for the Mute Swans in their Individual States.
Spring 2007 had Lovely Warm Days at the End of March.. I have Vivid Memories of Sitting on a Large River Rock.. “Handsome Fellow” Standing in Ankle ( his Ankles ) Deep Water as he Snorted “HELLO” to Each Boat that Motored by on the River.This Section of the River was his Home. He was NOT a Threat to Anyone. “Handsome Fellow” was a Gentle, Mature Mute Cob. Most People Enjoyed these Swans. “Handsome” was a Stunning, Healthy Mature Mute Cob.. There are Not Enough Words.. In April the Brood Pair Picked a Nest Site. They Allowed us to Share this Wondrous Time.Their Nest Matured in Late May.. Three Tiny Cygnets Hatched.. ( BIG SMILE )These Precious Days of Joy were Far too Few.
In Late May 2007, Days after “our” Swans Hatched Tiny Cygnets. We Surmised someone Hit “Handsome” with a Boat Oar while Attempting to get Too Close to “Pretty Girl” and their Cygnets. “Handsome”s” Left Wing was Broken..
For Weeks we Watched him, Wondering if he would be Ok.. “Handsome Fellow” was Slowly Losing Weight.. Sleeping More.
I was Clueless.. how to Help him.. Our Joyful Experience was turning to a Sense of Impending Loss of this Enchanting Mute Cob. Over the 2007 4th of July Weekend our WildLife Adventure Changed in a Way that has Brought us/me to Today..
A Cruel Person, Propelled a Large FireCracker out into the River and it Landed Under “Handsome Fellow” ! ! The Explosion Shredded his Left Wing.. his Broken Wing. I found “Handsome” Alone, Standing in Shallow Muddy River Water.. His Wing was Burned, he was “In Visible Pain”.. He was so Brave. I Felt SOoo Helpless.
Like many People, we had Found an Occasional Injured Bunny or Little Bird that had been Blown out of a Nest, that Needed Help from a Knowledgeable Person. And made a few Calls to Find Someone who takes WildLife and Cares for them..
At that Time I was Totally unaware of the Legal Confusion we were about to Confront by taking “Handsome” from the Local River System. ALL I could See and Knew, he was Severely Hurt and I COULD NOT Watch him Suffer and Die.
I Started by Calling the PA Game Commission.. to ask for help to Rescue “Handsome” from the River.. We had No Boat. No Nets.. No Skills to do a River Water Rescue.. “Please Help him”.. I Told the Agent we would be Responsible for his Further Care.
I was Told in NO Uncertain Terms.. the PAGC would Only go out to the River, if they Could Put “Handsome” Down. !!!!
I was Stunned.. Close to Begging for Help to Rescue “Handsome” I wanted to know “WHY” ?? All I Remember was the Statement.. “Zero Tolerance for Mute Swans in PA.” The PAGC Agent on the Phone had NO Sympathy for this Injured Swan.. Her Comments were Contempt for Mute Swans – Period ! I Begged her NOT to Respond to any other Calls about him..
I Ended this Dead-End Hope for getting him Help.. We wanted a Chance to Rescue him if Possible. ( Now it was “Panic Time.)
There is NO Way to ReCount the Long “Shaggy Dog” Type Story that Followed. Countless Phone Calls.. Talking to Everyone I could Think of..
Days Passed while we did our Best to keep Track of “Handsome.” There was One Day, I Put a Large Trash Bag in our Van.. I was Fearful that we would Find him Deceased.. His Injury was Terrible.
A Little at a Time, I found People who worked with Swans. AND an Avian Veterinarian that said she would Look at “Handsome” if we were able to Bring him in.
I Found a Large Pet Carrier.. a VERY Large Fishing Net. We Practiced our Plan.. “Handsome” had the Advantage.. he Knew the River. For us it would be Opportunity and LUCK !
****** After Six All Consuming Days, we had Arranged for “Handsome’s” Rescue.. There were Several Failed Attempts before Opportunity, Skill and LUCK ! Caught him in the BIG NET.. In Minutes we are off to the Vet’s Office.. “Handsome’s” Life was Changed Forever.. as was Ours.
The Broken Wing was a Compound Fracture.. The Bones had Punctured his Skin under the Wing. The Wing Skin was Burned and Oozing.. It Looked Terrible.
“Handsome” was Moulting when the July Injury Occurred. His New Primary Flight Feathers were Blood Feathers.. Slight Bumps of these Broken Feathers started them Bleeding.
When we Got to the Veterinarian’s Office. “Handsome” was in Bad Shape. He Collapsed – for a Few Minutes we Feared he was Dying.. We had to Try to Stabilize him and Improve his Overall Condition before any Debridement. We took “Handsome” to a Farm that Raises Swans.. They had Offered Help.It is a Farm.. There were Flies.. The Flies were Attracted to his Injury.
We Brought “Handsome” Home to Clean and Protect his Damaged Wing. ******
****** Over the Next Several Days and Weeks.. Multiple People and Multiple Veterinarians Assisted us in Saving “Handsome’s” Life. TO ALL of Those People – Saying “Thank You.” is Not Enough.
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All the Veterinarians Knew our Story of Rescuing this Feral Mute Swan from the Local River.. There is Much to this Story I can not Tell here. It is Too Long.. Our Primary Concern was to Help “Handsome Fellow.”
At an Animal Hospital, I was Asked to Sign “Handsome Fellow” Over to them, Before they would take care of him.. I Said, we would be Responsible for him. I DID NOT Understand what this would Mean.. I Just Wanted to get him Help.. His Wing was Starting to Smell. Gangrene was Starting to Claim his Wing.
Literally, a Team of Surgical Veterinarians spent Six Hours trying to Save Parts of him Left Wing.. In the End, they found Multiple Areas of Infected Bone from the Original Compound Fracture in Late May.
The Decision was made, if there was any Chance to Save “Handsome” they would need to Remove his Entire Left Wing. Somehow, “Handsome” Survived this Surgery.. The Following Day, we asked to Visit him.. He Knew us.. As we Sat by his Care Cubical.. one of the Clinic’s Staff Stayed with us.. ( We Realized Later, that they were Guarding “Handsome” from us. ) We shared Stories of our Years of Visiting with the Three River Swans.
Now the other Two Swans were Alone.. We tried to Visit with them Several Time a Week.
I Brought a Large Container of Feed Mixture and the Feed Pans “Handsome” knew..
The Veterinarian that was OverSeeing “Handsome’s” Care.. let us know that they had Arranged for “Handsome” to go to a Licensed WildLife Rehabber for his Continuing Recovery.
I Requested that I would like to Go and Help with his Care.. I had the Time and the Desire to be there for this Swan that had become such a Part of my Daily Life.
What was NOT Said, was that the Animal Hospital had been Informed that since “Handsome” was Rescued from the River, he was Considered Wild.. and MUST be Given to this WildLife Rehab Person within 48 Hours. The Vet wanted to keep him Until she was Sure he was Stable.. But, the Rehab Person Stated she had the Legal Right to Take him.
I Call this Rehab Person.. Offered to Come Daily and Help to Care for him.. She said, she would let me Know when he was doing Ok.. then I would be able to Visit.. But > Not to help with his Care..
Two Days Passed.. I Called to Check on “Handsome.” “He is Fine. Please do not Call.. He is Legally in my Care. Only a WildLife Rehab Person can Care for a Wild Swan.”
I had done Enough Reading to Know this was NOT the Case ! I Called the PAGC WildLife Conservation Officer who was in the Same County as this Rehab Facility.. Explained my Story..Concerns.. Please HELP ! He Called the Rehabber.. who Declared that “Handsome” was a Trumpeter Swan and she would take care of him..
The WCO Called me.. Shared his Conversation.. I “DECLARED.” No “Handsome” is a Feral Mute.. Not a Wild Trumpeter Swan.. So, the WCO went to the Rehab Facility.. Asked to see “the Swan.” The Rehab Lady told him.. “OK, they can come for him..” She Said, he was Too Aggressive for her to Work with or Give Meds to..
As soon as we got the WCO’s Call.. We were in our Van.. with our Transport Carrier.. and Heading to Pick-up “Handsome.” When our Van Pulled into the Driveway.. “Handsome” saw it.. He STARTED to Prance.. and Cry.. Calling for us.. I was so Relieved he was Still Alive..
When the Rehabber Opened the Large Chicken Wire Cage “Handsome” was in, there was a Cloud of Flies around his Left Shoulder.. There was a Swarm the Size of a Ping-Pong Ball of Shiny Blue-Green Flies under the Tape Covering his Wound..
I Scooped them out with my Fingers.. Wrapped “Handsome” in a Towel > into our Carrier.. and Asked for his Meds and Post-Op Wound Supplies.. and the Large 25 Lb. Container of Feed Mix I had Left at the Animal Hospital/Clinic..
In those Two Days, there was NO Feed Missing from the Bucket. “Handsome” had Water.. I was Told he Only wanted to Eat the Grass. And, that he was SO MEAN, she could not Work with him..
He had not Receive any of his “Post-op” Antibiotics..or Pain Meds. His Wound was not Soaked nor the Dressing Changed.
We Left Angry ! But, Grateful the PAGC WCO had Helped us Save him..
“Handsome Fellow” was NOT Wild.. NOT Federally Protected. He was a Domestic Swan that had Flown away from his Home. “Handsome Fellow” Spent over Two Years Living Along our River System. “Handsome” was a Mature Cob.. that was Now less then 15 Pounds. ( A Healthy Mute Cob his Age.. could Easily be 30-35 Pounds.)
The Animal Hospital had NO Idea what they should Legally do with this Swan that was Rescued from the River.. Wild ?? Not Sure.
The Rehab Lady, Said she had the Authority to Take him.. Falsely Claiming he was a Trumpeter.
On One Hand the first PAGC Agents wanted “Handsome” Put-Down. Thankfully, the Second PAGC WCO was Willing to Help us Save him..
Two Day after we Removed “Handsome” from the Rehab Property, Close to a Cup of Maggots were Swarming OUT of his Shoulder Eating his Skin. It Took DAYs of Washing to End this Mess.. The Tissue Damage Set his Recovery Back Approximately 6 to 7 Weeks..
Rob and I Spent the Next Nine Months.. Caring Daily for this Mute Cob. We had Help.. a Place for him to Stay during Most of his Recovery. “Handsome’s” Recovery was not Straight Forward – Nor Easy. We made many Trips to Visit Veterinarians.. Many Post-Surgery Check-ups. “Handsome” was NOT Allowed in the Pond. He Developed Bumble Sore on both Feet. He had Surgery for these.. More Weeks of Sheltered Care.. I did Sponge “Bird Baths” for him for Weeks. “Handsome” would Struggle when it was Time for his Meds.. He Aspirated SEVERAL Pills into his Trachea.. and had to be Sedated so these could be Lifted Out.. We NEVER Gave Up.. Did his Care One Day at a Time.
WE/ “Handsome Fellow” NEEDED the Help of Veterinary Care.
“Handsome Fellow” was Amazing. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ******************************************************************
There are Seven Species of Swans..
The First Two Listed are Federally Protected by: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918
1. Tundra Swans – Cygnus columbianus Wild – Native to North American. > > Protected by U.S. Federal Law.. Migrate from Northern Canada to Various U.S. States for the Winter Months.
> Can Not be Privately Owned. > Rescued Tundra Swans go to Licensed WildLife Rehab Groups.
Licensed WildLife Rehabilitation Groups – Centers Need Veterinarian Help to Care for Any Rescued Swans.
****** 2. Trumpeter Swans – Cygnus buccinator Wild – Native to North American. . . . . . >> Protected by U.S. Federal Law. > > Can be Privately Owned – as Pets. If Purchased from a Registered Breeder. > > Must be Registration with the Department of Interior. WildLife Services Should Follow All Captive Owned Trumpeters.
> Wild-Free Trumpeters are Treated by Licensed WildLife Rehabs. > Captive Pet Trumpeters are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
Licensed WildLife Rehabilitation Groups – Centers Need Veterinarian Help to Care for Any Rescued Swans.
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The Following Species of Swans are ALL Prohibited from Living Wild and Free in Any U.S. State.. They are Domestics. *************************************************** 3. Mute Swans – Cygnus olor Formerly Protected by the 1918 MBTA.. Removed from the 2004-05 Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act.
Currently Management of Mute Swans is State by State.
In States where Mute Swans are Not Prohibited, They are Generally, Classified as Exotic, Domestic Poultry.
Each State has Policy, Restrictions, Some Require Permits. They may be Raised, Sold Person to Person and at Auctions. > Domestic Mute Swans are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
In Many States Injured Feral Mute Swans will be Euthanized.. All States have Different Policies.
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4. Black Australian Swans – Cygnus atratus They are Generally, Classified as Exotic, Domestic Poultry. There are NO U.S. States that Regulated them that I am Aware of. They may be Raised, Sold Person to Person and at Auctions. > Domestic Black Australian Swans are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
5. Black-Necked Swans – Cygnus melancoryphus They are Generally, Classified as Exotic, Domestic Poultry. There are NO U.S. States that Regulated them that I am Aware of. They may be Raised, Sold Person to Person and at Auctions. > Domestic Black-Necked Swans are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
************************* I have not had the Pleasure of Visiting any Whooper Swans.. I am Using Beautiful Images from the Internet. THANKS.
6. Whooper Swans – Cygnus cygnus They are Generally, Classified as Exotic, Domestic Poultry. There are NO U.S. States that Regulated them that I am Aware of. They may be Raised, Sold Person to Person and at Auctions. > Domestic Whooper Swans are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
I have not had the Pleasure of Visiting any Coscoroba Swans.. I am Using a Beautiful Image from the Internet. THANKS. 7. Coscoroba Swan – Cygnus Coscoroba They are Generally, Classified as Exotic, Domestic Poultry. There are NO U.S. States that Regulated them that I am Aware of. They may be Raised, Sold Person to Person and at Auctions. > Domestic Coscoroba Swans are Treated by Avian Veterinarians.
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As Each Year Passes, and I Interact with Swan Owners in States other then Pennsylvania.. I Learn of their Challenges in Providing Care for their Swans..
Folks with Legally Owned Domestic Swans.. Need Care for them. They are Pets.
We have been Lucky in PA.. to have Several Avian Veterinarians and Animal Hospitals that will See and Treat our Swans.
Veterinarians : DVM vs. VMD… The Two are Equivalent. For 29 of the 30 Veterinary Schools in the United States, the Designation is DVM, which stands for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. But for Graduates of the Veterinary School at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, PA the Designation is VMD, or Veterinary Medical Doctor.
The Attitude/Policies of Veterinarians about Swans Varies Greatly… Seeking Care and Treatment from an Exotic or Avian Veterinarian is the Most Advisable.. > > Seek a Vet that is Happy to Care for your Swans.
I have been Surprised at the Different Policies that they may Follow. Some will NOT Pinion Cygnets.. Stating it is Unethical to Ground a Swan by Pinioning.
They will offer to Clip.. and are Willing to do this Annually. This is Tricky to do with Growing Cygnets.. It is a Challenge to Catch a Brood of 3-4 Month Olds out on a Pond.. AND there is the Concern with Active Blood Feathers. Getting Any Swan Clipped Safely before the Cygnets/Swans takes Flight..
Swans Moult Annually – All Clipped Wing Feathers are Replaced with Natural Flight-Worthy Feathers. If Full-Wing Swans are NOT Clipped at the Proper Time, the Risk that these Swans will Fly Away is Increased..
Since Male and Female Swans Moult at Different Times of the Year.. Planning to Clip them at the Appropriate Times for 10-20 Years will be Very Risky..
This is Frustrating.. Domestic Pet Swans that Fly are in REAL PERIL if they Fly Away from their Private Property Home.. Regardless of the Swan Species. In Many States, WildLife Services or Hunters will Remove/Destroy Feral Swans.
DNR WildLife Services do not WANT Domestic Swans to become Feral.. Feral Domestic Swans are Fair Game 365 Days a Year.
A Domestic Pet Swan that Flies is at Great Risk of Dying. If not by Injuries Associated with Flying.. then by the Department of Natural Resources.
I DO NOT Understand Why Safely Pinioning Domestic Swans would not be Safer for them. ? ?
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Some DVM/VMDs Trained to Care for Exotics will not See Swans.. ??? They are Trained for Exotic Birds.. PeaCocks, Macaws, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, etc. Trained for Poultry.. All Species of Chickens, Ducks and Geese ??? Exotic Domestic Pet Swans need Care.. like a Pet Cat or Dog..Horse or Cow..
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MY REASON for Organizing this Topic Page..
We were VERY Lucky in 2007, when it was a Scramble to Find an Avian Veterinarian to help us Save “Handsome Fellow.” If ALL the People and Veterinarians that Help us Save “Handsome” had not been there – and Willing .. Our Swan Saga would be Rather Short..
If “Handsome Fellow” had been Pinioned.. This Swan Soap Opera would Never have Happened.. Within Two Years both of the Feral Female Mutes on the River were Shot to Death. “Pretty Girl” should have been ReHomed… Not Discarded to the River.
“Sweet Harmony” wanted her Freedom.. She was Full Winged. We had her Safely on Private Property for a Short Time. “Sweet Harmony” is the Dam ( Mother ) of our “Meadow.” ******************
With Each Passing Year, I Interact with Swan Folks who have Trouble Getting Medical Help for their Swans for all Kind of Reasons.
Many Veterinarians have No Training with Swans..
There are Variations with Laws-Policies-Restrictions from State to State.. When a Swan of Any Species is Wild, Domestic or Feral… It is a Tangle of When or Who Will or Won’t, or Why – if they Know.. Meanwhile, these are Living, Breathing Swans that Need Care.
When you Acquire or Plan to have Swans.. IT would be a Good Idea to Check with the Exotic and Avian Veterinarian Practices in your Area.. and FIND-OUT what Services they will Provide or NOT Provide for your Captive Domestic Pet Swans..
COMMON REASONS: Your Swans will NEED Veterinarian Care.
There is No Way to Post a Complete List of Reasons..
Snapping Turtle Bites are Common with Swans.. These NEED Treatment.. Bloody Wounds become Infected.
Fishing Line and HOOKs.. are Common Causes Injuries.. Swans are Famous for Swallowing Anything Shiny ! ( Hooks ) Fishing Line Entanglements will Cut a Struggling Swan.
To Prevent Illness and Death due to Parasites.. Parasites are Silent Killers.. Round Worms, Tapeworms, Lice, Mites, etc. Internal and External Parasites are in the Swans’ Environment. These cause Weight Loss and Anemia..
TOO Many Swans Die from Parasite Infestations that an Annual Check-up or a Simple Stool O&P would Pick-up. And/or a Quick Look through their Feathers for Lice…
To Keep Swans Healthy, they should be Checked Once a Year. BEST Time after the First Heavy Frost in the Fall..
In the South.. Swans can be Infected by the Same Heart Worms that are Common in Untreated Dogs..
If you are Treating your Cats, Dogs, Horses, Goats, Chickens for Parasite.. > > Treat your Swans..
*************************** Whether a Swan is “Wild” or “Domestic”… Rare or Common, They are Living Creatures that Need Medical Attention.. Whether they are Rescued into the Care of a Licensed WildLife Rehabilitation Group.. or Living on a Family BackYard Pond.. Swans are Living Creatures.. They Need Wellness Check-ups.. Parasite Control. Swans Get Sick. They Experience Injuries and Need Help to Recover and Remain Healthy..
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& *************************************************************** This is Organized from Our Experiences with Veterinarians.. We were Lucky to Find Several that Helped us SAVE Many of the Swans we Rescued. PA SwanLover Linda . . . . UpDated February 2024 *************************************************************** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
WE NEEDED VETERINARIANs to Help Us Many Times in the Passing Years.
This is a Basic List of the Types of Times we Turned to them.
For TOO Many Snapping Turtle Bites !
Our “Meadow” had Multiple Surgeries on him Foot. Months of Care. I Cringe EVERY Time I see his Foot.. But, So Far he is Doing OK.. Every Thing Else about “Meadow” is Perfect. He is BIG and Bad ! A Macho Male. For Injuries due to Fishing Line Entanglements.
and For TOO Many Swallowed Fishing Hooks or Line.
The Young Female below Swallowed Fishing Line.. XRayed – NO Hook. The First Veterinarian she was Taken to, Said she Needed to be Euthanized. We Arranged for a Second Vet to See her.. He Sedated her and Teased the Line OUT ! This Precious Female was the New Mate of a Mature Cob that had been Alone 8 Years.
For Broken Wings.
For Bumble Foot Sores.
“Handsome” developed Bumble Sores that Required Surgery. “Handsome” was Not Allowed in Pond Water for Over Nine Weeks. We would Not have been Able to Help “Handsome” without Veterinarian Care.
The Bumble Sore below was Too Involved.. This Swan Eventually Died.
For Several Broken Legs.
Young Swan Cygnets have FRAGILE Legs. Handle with Care.
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For Pulled Groin Muscles and Ligaments.
This Young Female was Never Able to Walk. She Eventually Died.
For Internal Parasites.
These Cygnets had TapeWorms.. We Rescued them from a Farm that was Down Stream from a Cattle Pasture.
For External Parasites.
This Young Cygnet had a Heavy Infestation of Body Lice. She was VERY Anemic.. We Needed to Treat her Three Times..
For Infected Injuries.
This Cob was Fighting with another Swan and Injured his Wrist Joint. The Open Sore became Infected and he Needed Two Weeks of Antibiotics. This Young Swan was Injured – Bleeding.. The Owner made Calls for over a Week trying to Find a Veterinarian to See him. Finally, the Owner had a Person Shoot the Swan to Stop his Suffering.
For Older Cygnets and Swans that Needed to be Pinioned SAFELY.
This Cygnet was not Pinioned when he was First Hatched. The Owner gave him to a Veterinarian that had NO IDEA how to Pinion. We took the Cygnet Surrendered to us to an Avian Veterinarian.. She Tried..
We Purchased the Cygnet below at an Exotic Bird Auction. It Horrified me – when I Realized this Young Female had her Wing Cut OFF Without any Sedation. Just Cleaved with a Sharp .. Something.
“Little Hannah” became our Pond Princess. For Ingested Foreign Objects.
Swans will Swallow ALL Kinds of Trash in their Environment.
For Starvation Situations.
This Tiny Cygnet “Did NOT Learn to Eat.” She was a REAL Challenge.
For 10 Days “Abigail” Spit OUT Every Bit of Food Mush I Tried to Feed her.. Then > Finally she Learned what Food was.. A Sweet Swan Saved. This Mature Male was Not Allowed to Eat. Food Competition.
Brought to a Domestic Waterfowl Rescue, this Young Male needed Help. Why was he SO Under Weight ?
For Diagnosis of Birth Defected.. and their Prognosis.
For Euthanasia When All Hope was Gone..
We would Give the Deformed Cygnets/Swans a Chance.. Then Do want was Best. This Tiny Cygnet had an Intestinal Tract that was no Absorbing Nutrients that she Desperately Needed to Grow.. She Only Gained a Few Ounces in 4 Weeks.. Her Leg Bones were Twisting in Various Directions.. She would Never Walk.. She had Only Grown 3 to 5 Small True Tail Feather. Tiny Swan your Life was Unfair.. Now your Spirit can Fly Free.
Compare a Health Cygnet with this Tiny One.. We have Loved them ALL.. Saved Some of them One at a Time.
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From the Sky, Land and Sea… “All Creatures Great and Small.”
January 30th, 2015 | Posted by LadyNerkle1 in What is Your Water Environment - (Comments Off on What is Your Water Environment)
What is Your Water Environment ?
If you are Considering having Swans It is Important to Evaluation where they will Live.
Swans will Do Well in many Water Environments. I hope to share Information that will help You Decide if you have an Appropriate Place for Swan to Live in your Care.
January 30th, 2015 | Posted by LadyNerkle1 in Swans are NOT Lawn Ornaments - (Comments Off on Swans are NOT Lawn Ornaments)
“The Swans have become such a big part of our Life. They have brought us Joy, Laughter, Smiles, Worry, Peace, Aggravation, Knowledge, Comfort, Tears, Patience, and an Appreciation of True Beauty. – A New Swan CareTaker… 2015-2016
Swans are NOT Pond or Lawn Ornaments
SWAN ARE NOT POND ORNAMENTS ! !*****
***** Live Swans are NOT Garden Decorations.
The Striking Beauty of Graceful Swans will Enhance any Property. The Novelty of having Swans may Pass and Neglect is likely to Follow. ***** Having Swans is a Commitment. They may easily Live 25-35 Years or Longer with Good Care and Some Luck.
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Captive Swans Depend on their CareTakers for their Health and Happiness.
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Captive Swans are Pets.
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They Need a Safe Home, Proper Food, Lots of Water.
If you Tire of Caring for your Swans, ReHome them to another Interested Person. NEVER Release any Swan into the Environment. NEVER..! ! It is ILLEGAL ALL Across the United States and Canada to Deliberately Release a Mute Swan or their Growing Cygnets. Discarded Pet Swans will likely be Destroyed.
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Having a Passion for Swans.. I DO have Many Swan Lawn Ornaments !
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With Care, Some Luck and a Good Diet Swans may Live 20-30+ Years.
They Would NOT Feed Him.. He is Gone. “Can Animal Rights Be Legally Defined?” In 1978 the HSUS, Humane Society of the United States defined Animal Rights. “Animals have the right to live and grow under conditions that are comfortable and reasonably natural. Animals that are used by man in any way have the right to be free from abuse, pain, and torment caused or permitted by man. Animals that are domesticated or whose natural environment is altered by man have the right to receive from man adequate food, shelter, and care.” Changes to their Environment or the Landscaping may Alter their Food Supplies.
Pinioning any Waterfowl… Changes Everything.
In the U.S. Mute Swans “Owned” by Humans are generally Pinioned to Restrict their Ability to Roam at Large.
They are Classified as: Captive, Domestic, Exotic, Poultry. (Not Wild)
Like ALL Animals and Birds Living in Captivity. They are Entitled to: 1. Adequate and Appropriate Food 2. Adequate Fresh Water 3. Appropriate Shelter 4. Reasonable Safety from Harm 5. Veterinary Care when Needed
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If you Just want to See White Swans and NOT Care for them.. Swan Decoys are Available.
These Swan Decoys are Very Realistic.. We have Stopped Several Times – Seeing them on Country Ponds.
A Real Mute Swan Attacked this Mute Swan Decoy – Knocked the Head OFF ! !
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LIVE SWANs are Captive PETs.
Swans Add Beauty to Every Season of the Year.
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This Information is a Work in Progress….. As I learn more I will add to this Information.. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger UpDated November 2022 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
