Swan Lovers

To Shelter or Not in Winter

January 30th, 2015 | Posted by LadyNerkle1 in To Shelter or Not in Winter - (Comments Off)

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 YOU and the Swans, Especially for the Young Cygnets.
We have been doing this over 10-17 Years (2021) 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 others..
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. Their Numbers are Increasing ALL the Time.
I hear them Mentioned More and More as I Speak with Swan Owners.

Several Years Ago, I did a Search for the CoyWolves in Pennsylvania.
I Read that there are an Average of 40,000 Removed Annually ! !

The Coyotes – CoyWolves 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 Swans 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 on 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.

DO NOT USE Wood Shavings or Hay for Shelter Bedding.
Wood Shavings are TOO Dusty. Hay has a Higher Risk of MOLD.

If Straw is not available Old Blankets or Towels to Snuggle into will Help..
Try to Keep their Feet off a Hard, Frigid Floor.

I have Never used Hay for Bedding.. TOO Risky.. Too much Mildew-Mold.

https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/feed-health/what-causes-fungal-infections-poultry/
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

Not ALL Out Buildings have Electricity Available..

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 Themselves.

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.
Do the Ducklings and Goslings Survive or do they Disappear ??

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..
It is Wise to Removed ALL Feed from the Pond at SunSet.
Small Rodents will Visit the Feed.. and Attract Large Predators.
You Do Not Want to Invite the Night Creatures that will Stalk your Swans.

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 Equip your Pond or Lake Side 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 12 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..

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Check their Weight.. They may be Underweight and Need Shelter..

It is Nice to have a Friendly Companion to Snuggle with.

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 for the Night – the Door must be Secured
and then Opened again in the early Morning.Cygnets that Hatch Late in the Year are Too Small to be Outside in Colder Months.
The Black-Necked and Black Australian Cygnets will Need to be
Sheltered as they Grow. Tiny Cygnets are Eating-Pooping Machines.******

All Swans and Cygnets are VERY MESSY…LOTs of POOP.
Life is easier if the Swan are able to 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 as a Barrier will 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
Bedding-Substrate. You want to keep their Webbed Feet off the Hard Floor.
The Layers of NewsPaper let you just ROLL-up Most of the Soiled Straw..

Putting your Swans in a Barn, Shed or Garage – Check for Hazards.
Sharp Objects, Glass, Things 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. Check the Shelter will be Safe from Predators Coming IN ! !
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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.
The Cygnets Below are the Survivors of a Brood of Five.
Three Taken by Hawks.
Hand Raised means without their Parents.
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When Hand Raising Cygnets.. (without Parents)
Tiny Cygnets need Supervision when out in the 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. Thin Ice was Forming along the Bank. “Hannah” is Biting at the Ice.
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Swans Generally do not Eat a Night..
Unless there is a Pecking-Order Problem – Competition for Food.
It can be an Extra 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-Wing Swans.. This Female was Found after Hurricane Irene. This Young Full Wing Male was Rescued after a Nasty Summer Storm.

Full Wing Swans may “Take to Air” and be Blown Far Away from their Homes.
This Summer Storm Developed with Noisy, Rolling Thunder.
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 ??? An Icy Winter Storm will Coat EVERY Thing, Including the Swans.

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 17 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.

For Long Periods of Time INSIDE…
Bring them Pond Water Twice a Week to Keep their Immunity Active.
Inside – Inside Kennel Fencing – in a Dog House.. Resting and Healing.
He needed Surgery for Debridement of Painful Bumble Foot Sores.
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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.
***********************************************************************Shelter can be Shade where there is Lots of Summer Sun..and few Natural Shade Structures like Trees or Shrubs.
Pool Water in Full Sun can become HOT..
During the Winter a Kidde Pool will Freeze.. This Bucket Heater Worked.

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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 – Female Nest Mortality is HIGH.
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Nesting Female 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. They should be Anchored to the Ground.
These may Blow OVER in a Stiff Wind. They get HOT in the Sun.

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

The Thick Layer of Straw in this Calf Hutch was Not Changed for Months.
I Stopped to Visit with Injured “Little Cutie.”
During the Warm Summer Days, Spider Nests Matured and HATCHED ! !
I Found the Cygnet COVERED with Tiny Spiders. EEEEEKKKK !!!
She was Moved >>>>>>> and Rinsed THOROUGHLY.

The Calf Hutches Look Nice. Attractive Landscape Features.
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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.

Summer Heat, Organic Waste, Lack of Rain….
This Pond became a Toxic Soup of Hazardous Algae Bloom and Bacteria.

The Swan Family moved to a Cool, Flushing Stream on the Farm.
Not all Properties have a Stream.
The Shallow Stream Provided NO Protection from Predators at Night.

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Pond Water with Little to No Flow Through can becomes too Toxic due to Organic Decay..or INCREASED Pathogenic Bacteria Concentrations. Ponds with Poor or No Flow Through will become Stagnant during Periods of Drought. Foul Smelling Pond Water is NOT Safe for Waterfowl.
This is a REAL Concern for Retention Ponds.

OR if there is a Disease being Spread 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.
Avian Influenza in Wild Migrating Birds.
Avian influenzaA Viruses are Very Contagious among birds and some of these Viruses can Sicken and even Kill certain Domesticated Bird species including Chickens, Ducks, Waterfowl and Turkeys. Infected birds can shed Avian influenzaA Viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.

Avian Influenza in Birds | Avian Influenza (Flu) – CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-birds.htm

***********Another Nasty Avian Virus Spread during Migration.

Duck Viral Enteritis – (DVE) is an Acute, Highly Contagious Disease
of both Wild and Domestic Ducks, Geese, and Swans of all Ages.
Characterized by Sudden Death, a High Mortality Rate,
(Particularly among Older Ducks).

Muscovy Ducks are Most Susceptible.

Prevention includes Biosecurity and Avoiding Contact
of Captive Waterfowl with Wild Birds. Especially During Spring Migration.

I Know of One Confirmed Back Yard Pond that was Affected.
They Lost 4 of their 5 Muscovy Ducks within Several Days.
Their Pond is in an Area where Waterfowl are Migrating North in the Spring.

And One Farm Pond that had Several Muscovy Died after a Feral
Muscovy Visited their Pond. Not Confirmed, but Fits the Pattern.

We had a Scare with DVE when One of our Female Swans Died in May.
Tests Determined it was Clostridia and Not Duck Viral Enteritis..
I HOLD my Breath every Spring.. Watching Ducks Flying North..
..that our Domestics will be OK…
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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.

This Shelter Worked Well for a Rescued Swan Waiting for a Forever Home.
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Several Times, I have Sheltered Swans and Cygnets for a Few Days in our Downstairs Shower. It was Great for Clean-ups. Messy, Messy, Messy.

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. UpDates February 2021
COMPILED by PA SwanLover Linda
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