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SAME SEX MALE MUTE SWAN PAIRings

August 14th, 2021 | Posted by LadyNerkle1 in SWANs-SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Learn BASIC Information about Male Mute Swan Pairings.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

To Enlarge Images – Right Click Image then Open in a New Tab.

Before you Decide to get Mute Swans you should think about
whether you want Cygnets or Not.. Basic BackYard Breeding..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Mute Swan Family

There are Male-Female Swan Pairings.. And Same Sex Mute Swan Pairings.

Two Male Swans or Two Female Swans will NOT Produce Young.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

There are Pros and Cons to Both Same Sex Swan Pairings..
Males Swans are Called Cobs – Females Swans are Called Pens.

As I have been Working on this Topic.. MY Goal is:
To Share want I have Learned, Observed and Others have Shared.
So you have Information to Make the Best Choice for Your Pond.

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For Male Mute Swan Same Sex Pairs
TWO MALE NESTMATES Work the Best.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

If You are Interested in Swans because you have a PROBLEM
with Canada Geese.. Two Mute Males are a Good Choice.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

All Swans Naturally Eat Lots of Plants from Ponds and Lakes.
This Helps to Control Excess Plant Growth..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
DuckWeed

Duckweed, many Algae are Natural Foods for Waterfowl.
If you Want to Avoid Chemical or Shade Treatments,
Swans may be a Part of your Plant Control Program.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
DuckWeed  Algae

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There are NO 100% Rules of Behavior with any Swan Pairings.
ALL Swans have Different Personalities..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

My Husband has a Comment I will “Quote”…
“Swans are Predictably Unpredictable.”

The Image Below made me Laugh.. It is March and the Canada Geese are HERE !

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

There are Some Predictable Mute Swan Behaviors.
They Need Understanding and Patience During their Seasonal Behavior Swings..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Mute Swan Cobs tend to have BIG Personalities.
They are more Showy when their Wings are held in Display..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

IT is VERY Important that the TWO MALEs be NestMates…
Meaning the Two Males Hatched in the Same Nest Brood.
This Results in “Brood Imprinting” when they First Hatch..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Two Mute Cobs that are >> NestMates << will Usually be able
to Live Together for their Common Life >> 25-30 Years,
85-90% of the Time, as Long as NO Female Swan is Introduced..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Golf Course

Two Male Swans *NestMates – NO Females = No Cygnets..
They Do NOT get as Hormonal as Cobs Protecting a Nesting Pen.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I have had a Chance over the Years to Interact with an Increasing Number
of Male Mute Swan Pairings.. *NestMate Work the Best.. ONLY TWO Cobs..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

There are Less Raging Male Hormones in the Spring.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Mature Cobs will Protect and may Chase People Away from
their Water Areas during the Spring.
GIVE them Space and Understanding.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

ALL Male Swans have an Annual Increase of their Reproductive Hormones..
This is Out of their Control.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

DO NOT WEAR ANY WHITE near the Pond or Lake in the Winter-Spring Months..
WHITE is a Trigger for Male Swans to Protect and Defend..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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Three or More Mature Male Mute Swans is a BIG NO-No-no..!!!
Will NOT Work.
It does NOT Matter how Large the Body of Water.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

It is Due to the “Pecking Order” when there are more then Two Male Swans.
There will Eventually be a Problem with a Dominant Bully Cob
and the Submissive Cob at the Bottom of the “Pecking Order.”

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

With Multiple Males, it is Likely more then One will Pick on the Most Submissive Male.

The Submissive Male will not be Allowed to Eat..
Likely Chased off the Pond.. which is not Safe a Night.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

A Submissive Cob is at Risk of getting Hurt or Killed.
A Submissive Male is Helpless.. A Pinioned Male may Walk Away.
Unless able to Fly Away.. to a VERY UNCertain Fate..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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Every Summer, I have Arranged Two Male Mute Cygnet Pairs for Several People.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Male Swan Pairings are Good for Golf Courses, Community Ponds,
Hotels, Public Parks and for Folks not Interested in Cygnets.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Cygnets are Cute ! …. but Cygnets are Work.
With Two Male Swans there are No Cygnets to Worry with..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Two Cobs are LESS Problem with the General Public Visitors..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Nesting Swans are an Attraction – People want to get Close. ( We DID ! )

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

If there are CYGNETs.. Folks want to Photograph them. ( We DID ! )

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The General Public are NOT Familiar with an AGGRESSIVE Swan Cob.
These Folks are at Risk of being Chased, even Flogged..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

With Two Males – No Fussing with Cygnets – No Nesting Drama.
Less Aggressive Behavior. – Just Swans to Enjoy..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

With Two Males you Need to Warn your Family and
Guests in the Spring Months to Keep their Distance.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Cobs may Gather and Build a Nest or Nests.. Sit on it..
Male Swans will Generally not Defend a Nest with NO Eggs..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

They are NOT as Vulnerable as Nesting Females.
Male Swans are less likely to have a Predator Attack.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Male Swans are more Likely to Sleep in the Water where they are Safer..
Which will Hopefully mean LESS Nesting Trauma..

 SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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THIS is the ONLY EXCEPTION:
( BACK GROUND INFORMATION )
In the Wild, Young Cygnets and Juveniles Naturally Form
a “Juvenile Group” when they Leave their Family Unit.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Six Month Old Male Cygnets in these Images are from Two Different Broods.
TWO Male NestMate Pairs. These Cygnets Joined Together in Minutes.
We Put them Together for ONE WINTER Until a Lake was Ready for Two of the NestMates.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Juvenile Groups Provide Comradeship and “Safety of Numbers.”
In the Wild there will also be Young Females in these Groups.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

As the Juveniles Mature it will be TIME for them to Form Pairs
and Leave the Group to find their Own Territory.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

With Multiple Males, it is Likely more then One will
Pick on the Most Submissive Male.
One of the Young Males Below is Showing Submissive Behavior.
All these Blended Male Cygnets were Fine for this ONE Winter Together.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Multiple Young Male Cygnets might Live together Peacefully
From 6 Months – Until ca. 24 Months Old. ( NO Parents or FEMALEs )
Then New Arrangements will Need to be Made for Some of them.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

It is the “Pecking Order” when there are more then Two Male Swans.
There will Eventually be a Problem with a Dominant Bully Cob
and the Submissive Cob at the Bottom of the “Pecking Order.”

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

In the Early Spring, when these Young Males were just 12 Months Old..
Two NestMates with RED Leg Bands were Moved to their New Home.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Male Pairs were Color Banded to Keep the NestMates Together.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Submissive Male will not be Allowed to Eat..
Likely Chased off the Pond.. which is not Safe a Night.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I have seen how Several Mute Males in their “Hormone Hell” Stage
CAN Go After a Weaker Male.. It was NOT Good.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

A Submissive Cob is at Risk of getting Hurt or Killed.
A Submissive Male is Helpless.. Unless able to Fly Away..
A Pinioned Male may Walk Away to a VERY UNCertain Fate..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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THE MAIN BENEFIT – JOB of Two Mute Cobs in Early Spring-Summer.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

For Folks that have a BIG Problem with Canada Geese.
Those TIRED of their NOISE and Poop-DIRT

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Goose Poop

If Canada Goose Control is your Main Reason for Seeking Swans..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

I Suggest a Same Sex Male Mute Swan Pair.
Most Mute Cobs DO HELP with the Pesky Canada Geese..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

It DOES NOT Help when we Feed the Geese.

During Jan to late March-April Most Mature Cobs will be “Testy.”
It is their Elevated Hormonal Season..
This may last for 6-12 Weeks in varying Degrees..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

The Elevated Spring Reproductive Hormones are what
Causes Swan Cobs to CHASE Canada Geese off your Pond or Lake.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

Two Mute Cobs Generally Chase Migrating Geese off “THEIR” Water.
It is Good Exercise for Flightless Swans to CHASE Canada Geese..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

Especially, during Migration Season.
“NO NEW-Comers are Welcome to their Territory ! “

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

Canada Geese Goslings that Hatch on your Property will Imprint to Your Property.
These Canada Geese will Want to Return Year after Year.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

You can Help by Learning How to Discourage the Geese Nesting on your Property..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

If young Swans Grow-up with Several Resident Canada Geese..
these may be Well Tolerated..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

While this Young Male was Living Alone,
A Pair of Resident Canada Geese were his Best Feathered Friends.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Most Mute Swans are Tolerant-OK with Domestic and Wild Ducks..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Most Mute Swans will Live Peacefully with Domestic Waterfowl.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Without a Pen to Stimulate their Reproductive Hormones,
these Same Sex Cobs are Less AGGRESSIVE..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

There Tends to be more Peaceful Months of the Year,
when you can just Enjoy these Stunning Swans..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

It is the Migrating Flocks that will Cause most Mute Swans to Charge into Action..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

Their Territorial Behavior is like a Bell Curve..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

The Natural Reproductive Hormones of Swan Cobs
Start to Increase in Late December,
Peak January through April and are Declining by May..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

Some will Start to Chase while Young Juveniles.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Canada Geese

Some will Need to Mature a Bit to do the Job..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

Most Male Swans (once 2-3 Years Old) will be Helpful
Controlling Canada Geese on a Pond or Lake.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Young Males below would NOT Allow ANY Canada Geese on their Pond !
Good Job Boys !

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Number of Canada Geese can make a Difference..
TOO Many and the Swans may be Overwhelmed..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
Migrating Canada Geese

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NO Matter what Combination of Swans, there will Always be a “Pecking Order.”

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

One Swan will be Dominant and One will have to be the Submissive One.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Two Cobs “MIGHT/Will ” have a Few Weeks of being Testy with Each Other.
They usually Work Out how to Co-Exist. Most Stay BEST BUDS..
One Time you See them there is a Chase Happening..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Then 30 Minutes Later they are Chest to Chest – Head Turning,
Expressing that they Like Each Other..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

If Cobs Start Aggressive Behavior toward Each Other…
What I would Suggest.. Keep a Close Watch ! !

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Do Your BEST NOT to Allow Either to be Hurt – This Behavior will Subside..
Try to Distract them.. to Stop Unwanted Behavior.
Toss Small Treats onto the Water.. Plain Cereals.

The Same Cobs ONE Month Later. They are Getting Along MUCH Better.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Cobs may need a Second Feeding Station for a While..

Most Important – YOU STAY Safe… ! !
Do NOT get into or onto the Pond or Lake with them ! !
They will be VERY Protective of >THEIR < Water..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

This is NOT Humorous – This is Dangerous – NOT Funny !

The Male Swans that Followed you around as you did Yard Work last Summer..
MIGHT Surprise you with a “WING WHACK” Attack.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I have Swan Folks Tell their Tales of that FIRST Time their Gentle Cob..
…Hit them ! ( OUCH ! ) Be Aware !

“NEVER Turn Your Back on a Hormonal Male Swan”..
Always Know where they are… !

Never HIT the Swans .. ! !
Their Bones are NOT as Strong as a Mammal’s Bones.
A Swan’s Bones may Fracture with Sudden Blunt Pressure.

JUST KEEP THEM AWAY.. Keep a Barrier BETWEEN You..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Keep Something with YOU.. to keep them from Coming at You..
We use a “Homemade” Repelling Tool.. OR a Large Polyvinyl Trash Container..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Swan Cobs are Strong.. So BE Prepared to Brace yourself.. !

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

If you See a Cob Swimming Fast, Pushing Water – Wings UP..
It is Time to MOVE Out of the Way.

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This is My Feeling, Not something I know for sure…
Like People and Kids, Cats, Dogs, etc..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

During a Given Year the Swan Cobs Hormones may be at Different Levels..
One may have more Elevated Hormones then the Other.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I hear from Folks with Two Males.. Some Years they are Perfectly OK..
Maybe Spending Time Apart. But, NO Fussing or Fighting..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Then the Next Year.. There are Periods for Noticeable Discontent..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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There is “Play Chasing.” You NEED to Learn the Difference.
Young Swans like to Chase each Other.. “Silly Fun”

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Since Pinioned Swans will NEVER get to Fly..
the Chasing is Good for their Heart Development.
BUT, Aggression.. Hurting each other is NOT Good..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Every Swan Pair will vary. Every Year will be Different.
Your Role at this Time will be to Help them if Necessary,
by keeping them from Getting Hurt until their Hormones Decline.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Most Important is for Both Cobs to be SAFE at Night.
Try to Encourage BOTH to be on the Pond at SunSet.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

If Needed, do you have a Place you could put One at Night ? ?
Inside a Secure Shelter.. WITH a Door.. if Needed ? ?

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I have had to Assist Folks with NestMates Cobs ReHome One.. 

UnRelated Males – Yes, I have Helped to Rehome Several..
These were Mostly when the Males were Mis-Sexed.
And People Realized they have TWO Males..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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A Behavior Common to Same Sex Swan Pairings:
Male or Female Pairs may “Mate” with Each Other..
They are Releasing their Sexual Tension.

You will see the Swans Swimming Side by Side,
Go through the Mating Act.. in a Non-Aggressive Act.
They will Do the Rising Up.. and Bathe Afterwards.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

You want to Know this is NOT an Aggressive Attack.

BELOW is an AGGRESSIVE ATTACK.. THIS IS SERIOUS.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

This Dangerous Behavior is to BE STOPPED As SOON As POSSIBLE !

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ONE VERY BIG IMPORTANT FACT for you to Know..

If Something Happens to One “Brother” of a Male Swan Pairing..
If One Dies for whatever Reason.. or is Lost.. Wanders Away.
OR One Cob Needs to be Moved to a New Home..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

You CAN NOT Introduce Another Male.. It will NOT Work.

I know of several Situation where Males were put together when Older..
OH MY, that REALLY does not Work. “Feathers FLY…”

The Remaining Cob will only Accept a Female/Pen as a Companion/Mate..

Your Options are:

  1. Allow the Remaining Male Swan to Live Alone.
    Consider some Fancy Ducks for Company..
    A Lone Male Swan will Adjust, ESPecially
    when there are Lots of Humans to Interact with..
    They Benefit from Extra Social Company.
  1. You Could Decide to Introduce a Female and have a Brood Pair..
    See NOTE: Below about Young Females….

If you Still do NOT want Cygnets.. Eggs can be Spoiled..
The Swans will Mate, Build a Nest, have Eggs..
There will be the Basic Nesting Drama which will End
when Nesting is Over.. NO Cygnets to Deal with..

Timing Swan Eggs to Hatching Nesting has Rules.
https://swanlovers.net/category/timing-swan-eggs-to-hatch/

Swan Cygnets are Delightful – a Fun Experience.. AND Work !
But, that is another Topic Page..

BASICALLY: To be a Responsible Swan Owner.
Tiny Cygnets 1-21 Days need to be Pinioned.
DNA-Checked around 12-16 Weeks Old…to Determine Sex
and Rehomed-Adopted by 6 – 10 Months Old..

The Parents will NOT Tolerate their Growing Cygnets
when they are Ready to Mate and Nest Again..

  1. Last Option – Rehome the Remaining Cob..
    And Start with Another Pair of Male NestMates.

RELATED Note:
The Introduction of a Young Female should be Supervised with an Older Male.

A Younger Females may be Perceived as another Swan’s Cygnet.
It MAY takes more Time for an Older Cob to Accept her.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

You will Want to keep a Close Watch while the Cob gets to know a Young Female.

I have Arranged MANY 4 to 6 Month Females to be a
New Companion/Mate for an Older Cob.. ( 4-20+ Years Old )
The Adjustments have been Minutes to Days to Weeks.
There is NO Way to Predict..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

A Juvenile Female, at Least 18-24 Months Old would be Ideal..
Finding a Juvenile or Older Female is a Matter of Luck.
Mature Swan Pens Available for Adoption are Difficult to Locate.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Swans do not like being Alone, they are Social Creatures.
Most Older “Bachelor Cobs” will Enjoying the Company
of a “Sweet Young Thing” if Given a Chance.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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Years Ago, I did some Reading..
I Read about Several Mute Swan Pairs that Lived Together for many Years..
There were Never any Cygnets.. No Eggs.. ??

NO One Suspecting they were Two Male Swans ? ?

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

And I ask Others with more Swan Knowledge then I had..
about their Thoughts and Experiences with Two Mute Cobs.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Before I started to Suggest Same Sex Male Pairings to Folks..
We Met and Observed Several Mute Male Pairings.
Asked LOTs of Question of their Owners.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Some had been together 6-15-20 Years.
These do Very Well for Golf Courses and Public Parks, Community Ponds-Lakes..
Camp Grounds, Bed & Breakfasts, Event and Wedding Venues.
Any Place where the General Public will be Visitors..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

From our Experience..
NestMate Males do Fairly Well Together 85-90% of the Time.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
     There are NO 100% Rules with Swans – Males or Females. 

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For Private Owners, many Times having Two Cobs was an Accidental Pairing.
Cygnets Acquired from the Same Adult Pair.. Not DNA Checked.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Original Owner not Sexing the Cygnets in a Reliable Way.
The Clue was that after 3-5 Years there were NO Cygnets..
Some Nests.. No Eggs..

Every Spring I get Calls to help Shuffle Mis-Matched Pairings..
We NEVER Guess.. Always DNA Check a Swan’s Sex.

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Over the Years, we have had THREE DNA Determined Females..
RE-CHECKED to be Sure.. that Never Lay any Eggs..
Apparently, this does Occur.. According to an Avian Specialist.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Sweet Swan above was DNA-Sex Checked Twice.. FEMALE.
SHE Never Nested or Laid Eggs.

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Some Unrelated Male Swans will Tolerate or be Best Friends
with each other during the Non-Breeding Season..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

BUT,,, Late December through Spring Mature Cobs will be Governed
by their Increased Reproductive Hormones..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Mature Cobs can be “Testy” with each Other..to Down Right > FIGHTING..
Lots of Chasing.. Especially OFF the Pond.. so the One is Not Safe..
For the Submissive Cob it is often Hard to Eat from a Common Feed Station..

For a Time they are NOT Best Friends.
A Lower Percentage of Unrelated Male Mute Swans will Live Together Peacefully..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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I have Visited Several Black Australian Cobs..
that are Living Together – Seem to be Bonded.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Watching them during their Pre-Nesting Periods,.
they seem to be more Tolerant of Each Other..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Watching the Black Australian Cobs Posturing is like Watching Flamingo Dancers.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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There have been NestMate Mute Male Pairs that needed for One to be ReHomed..

Working with Swans I have Learned,
Nothing is 100% the Way we Expect or Plan.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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As I Gather my Notes and Thought for this Topic Page..
I Wanted to Share a few of the Male Pairings we Experienced..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Jotting down Notes from Photos and Memories..
the Examples are SO Varied.. It would take me Days.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Having Two Male Swans.. has maybe been Unplanned more often
then they were Planned to be a Same Sex Pairing.

Almost Every Spring, I have Calls from Swan Folks that Realize they have TWO MALEs.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Stories are Basically All the Same.. They Acquired Swans.
One or Two from a Single Person, usually a Farmer.. who Said..
“This One is a Female.” She was Vent Checked.. (UNRELIABLE)

I have HEARD.. “The Farmer Said…” Many Times..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Common Stories:
“Swans are Doing OK Together.. but, there are NO EGGs.”
“In the Spring they are Fussing with Each Other, Not Mating.”
We want Cygnets..

So, I have Arranged for “The Spring Swan Shuffle.”

There are as Many who Decide to Keep their Males..
as there are Folks who Rehome a Male and get a Female.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I Know Swan Ponds that have Two Males by Accident..
Folks who are Relieved to not be dealing with Cygnets..
Their Males are Keeping the Canada Geese Chased OFF..
The Swans are Doing OK.. and.. Well Enough Said.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The One Mute Pair we kept in touch with, ( 2009-2016 )
that had the most Discord in Early Spring were not NestMates.
They had 4-6 Weeks of One Chasing the other OFF the Pond..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Larger Cob Built a HUGE Nest.. He “Sat” on the Nest..
There were Never any EGGs !
The Owner Never Saw his Swans Mating.. Frustrated.

I Said to him for Years.. “I Suspect you have Two Males.”
“NO NO NO, They were Vent Checked Twice.. “

Insisting he had a Cob and Pen.. ( Both 6 Years Old)
He Complained that their Behavior made no Sense..

One Swan was BIG – Pinioned on the Left Wing. (Male)
The Smaller Swan was Pinioned on the Right Wing..(Female) ?

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

After Days or Weeks of “Swan Arguments”..
his Swans were a Lovely Pair on his Pond the Rest of the Year..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I had a Chance One Winter Day to Snatch Feathers
from the Smaller Swan. DNA Result – MALE !
The Larger Swan had been DNA Checked before Purchase.

Once DNA Verified the Swans were Both Male,
the Smaller Male was Rehomed and a Female Introduced.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Now the Man’s Brood Pair have Cygnets most Springs..
They are NOT Pinioned.. Not DNA Checked..
Most Left to Fly off or Perish.. Shame..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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In Our Early Years of Learning about Swans..
Placing Young Males Less then 6 Months Old Together was Suggested
as being an Acceptable Pairing.. I Heard this from Swan Folks Directly.
And I found Notes online in a few Places..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I did Arrange One UnRelated Male Mute Cygnet Pairing..
They were 4-5 Months Old. (2013) I was Still Learning.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

These Male Cygnets became the Best of Buddies within Days..
They Grew into BIG, BEAUTIFUL Cobs.. Full of Personality.
Our Visits with them was a Favorite Swan Pond Stop.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

These Young Males were Happy and Expressed their Fondness to Each Other Often.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Spring these Cobs were Three Years Old,
their Owner Mentioned that the Boys had been Squabbling..
It Lasted Several Weeks. She was Glad that had Passed..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Following Year.. their Fuzzing, Chasing, Out & Out Fighting had become Worse.
One Cob was NOT Allowed on the Pond for Weeks..
He was NOT Safe at Night.. A BIG Worry.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I Witnessed them Fighting during One Visit.. Heart-Sick.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Submissive Cob become Aggressive toward Members of the Family..
His Behavior made Life Outside their Home Risky.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Finally the Family decided to have the One Cob ReHomed..
The Situation had become Intolerable.. It would be Best for All..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I Arranged a Great Home for the One Cob with an Older Female.
The Cob became TOO Aggressive Living with the Older Pen.
When the Pen Passed (Old Age), the Cob Settled Down..
Now he is Living Alone.. He is Much Loved and Doing Well..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Five Year Old Cob that was Kept lived Alone for Several Months..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Then One Late Summer Day he Welcomed a Spunky Four Month Old Female..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

Now the Family has a Breeding – Brood Pair of Mute Swans.
They are Enjoying Cygnets and I have Helped with their Adoptions.

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I am Very Aware.. By having All the Swan/Cygnet Data Notes
that I have been Keeping Over the Past 17 Years or So..
That Nature has been LopSided with the Ratio of Male to Female Cygnets..
There are Generally More Male Cygnets..

The Brood below is an Extreme Example.. EIGHT Hatched.. ONLY One Female.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

This was an Extreme Situations.. Normally there are a Few Females in a Large Brood.

Put this Together with the High Nest Mortality of Females..
It is VERY Common for the Owners of a Cob that Lost a Mate
in the Spring to a Predator to be Seeking a New Female..
Many Mute Cobs have Two or Three Pens during their Life Time.

I have a LONG SEEKING FEMALE List All the Time..
There are Never Enough Females.

If there were NOT Homes for Two Male Swan Pairings..
I have NO Idea what People would do with ALL the EXTRA Males.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

I have had Calls over the Years.. Reports that their Cobs are not Getting Along..
I keep Notes.. and I Seldom have these Folks Call a Second Time..
Each Year is Different.

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I have Included Three Examples of Mute Swans Fighting.

Golf Course Mute Swan Cobs Fighting..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boXC8KeOutE

Brutal Swan Fight – This One is Labeled Properly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7nvKzx4YgQ

MALE MUTE SWANs Fighting..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci3uDf9YVqo

If you do a SEARCH for Mute Swan Fighting.. there are Many Clips on YouTube.
There are Some Clips Mis-Labeled Mute Swans “Mating.”
There are Also MANY Photos on the Internet.
As Beautiful as Swans are.. they have Can have a Nasty Side.

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A Final Side Note:
There are a Few States that will Only Allow Male Mute Swans..
They DO NOT Want any Females that Lay Eggs/Hatch Cygnets.

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

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I Hope I have NOT Forgotten Anything Important..
ASK Questions.. Feel Good about your Decision..

SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

The Wonderful World of Swans … Is NEVER Boring..
And You will Never Stop Learning about them.. (-;
PA SwanLover Linda M.Sweger – Organized August 2021

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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs
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SWANs SAME SEX Mute Male Pairs

 

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