WINTER CARE FOR SWANS.
NATURE HAS DESIGNED SWANS
TO LIVE IN VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.
UNDERSTANDING WANT SWANS NEED WHEN THE TEMPERATURES
DROP TO FREEZING AND BELOW
WILL HELP YOUR CAPTIVE SWANS REMAIN HEALTHY
OUTSIDE FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.
Click Images to Enlarge
As Fall Approaches each Year.. it is Time to Check that your Swans are Healthy.
Good Body Condition is Very Important for Swans to Tolerate Winter Conditions.
In the Northeast United States, the Rule we follow is:
From Halloween to St. Patrick’s Day…
We Provide Total Nutritional Support for our Mute Swans.
This Care would include any Captive Waterfowl
– Ducks, Geese, Captive Trumpeter Swans and Black Australian Swans.
As Pond Temperatures Drop, the growth of Under Water Vegetation
Slows and will go Dormant until Next Spring.
Lawn Grass will become Dormant..
Or when Covered with Snow and Ice is Unavailable for Grazing.
Water Insects and Under Water Critters Hide in the Lower Areas of the Pond.
MOST IMPORTANT
PLAN FOR OPEN WATER – A WINTER WAKE.
Healthy Swans do Very Well
AS LONG AS they can Keep their Feet in Liquid Water.
Most Swans Fare BEST OutSide During the WINTER.
It is January 2018
Much of the United States is Experiencing an Extended Period of BITTER Cold Weather..
Wind Chill from Frigid Polar Air Adds to the Brutal Conditions OUTSide..
Advisories are to TAKE ALL Animals into Sheltered Areas.
It is HARD to see the Swans OutSide in the Bitter Cold.
I STILL WORRY…
THIS Extended Bitter Cold was REALLY a Test of BASIC Swan Care.
OPEN WATER and PLENTY of HEALTHY CALORIES..
AND then the Judgement to Shelter or Keep Swans Outside in the Elements.
Each Water Environment is Different
and Each has its Own Variables to Consider.
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January 2018…
Sadly, this Bitter Cold Caught some Swan Owners Unprepared.
We learned of a Number who lost Swans.
Ponds Froze that Never Froze in Years Past.
Predators were able to get Swans…
Swans Need some Open Deep Water Area to be Safer.
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Winter Care will be Different for Adult Swans and Young Cygnets.
A Common Practice in the Past and Still Used
by some Caring for Swans:
If they do not have a way to Provide an Open Water Wake for their Swans…
they Arranged to Put their Swans Inside for the Coldest Winter Months.
It had been an Acceptable Practice to move Swans to a Farm
and into a Barn or Stable for the Winter. Or Send them South to a Warmer Climate.
Examples: Public Parks or Golf Courses that are not Open during the Winter.
Or Northern Resorts Routinely Removed their Swans during the Off Season.
Or Private Swan Owners who live in Areas where their Ponds Freeze
moved their Swans Inside.
Yes, it Sounds Logical…
But, Experience and Statistics have Changed the Practice over Time.
Once these Wintered Swans were Returned to their Ponds in the Spring,
to the Dismay of their Caretakers, a Percentage of the Swans became Ill and Died.
Veterinarians began to Realize the Swans kept Outside
on Open Water Ponds Fared MUCH BETTER.
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The Sheltered Swans were often kept in a Sunless Shelter for Two to Four Months.
The Lack of SunLight for Several Months will Deprive the Swans
of the Sun’s Important Benefits.
Being Sheltered at Night and Allowed Time Outside in the Sun on Nice Days
would be a Compromise from being Inside Day after Day.. So Many Variables.
Exposure to SunLight Aids Natural Vitamin-D
which Plays an Important Role in Immune Health.
A Deficiency of Vitamin-D Increases the Rate of Illness and Infections.
Inside for Several Months the Swans may Develop
the same Physical Problems Humans do Without SunLight..
IF kept Inside, they would Benefit from Vitamin Supplements.
And LOTs of Vegetables.
Check the Feeds you Provide for the Vitamins and Minerals Added.
Vitamin-D is Important for Bone Health by aiding the Absorption of Calcium.
Lack of Vitamin-D may Weaken their Leg Bones, contributing to various Problems.
Sheltered Swans are NOT getting much Exercise in a Small Barn Stall.
A Lack of SunLight and Freedom can lead to Depression.
The Winter Months are when Swans’ Reproductive Hormones are Starting to Increase.
They should be Courting, Mating, Enjoying being Swans.
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Swans Need to have their Immune System Stimulated Constantly.
They normally Drink the Water in their Environment, Ponds, Lakes, etc.
There is Nothing Clean about the Water they Drink ! !
It is Full of Bacteria and who know what else. YUCK !!
This Pond Water keeps their Immune System ACTIVE.. Robust.
Many Times in our Backyard, we watched Swans and Cygnets SUCKing
into Small Muddy Puddles every chance they would get.
Many Routinely DUG into the Dirt near the Kidde Pools
and Scooped Beaks Full of Dirt into the Clean Pool Water.
At first it was Exasperating trying to keep their Water Clean.
Reading and Observing I finally realized, they Instinctively CRAVE
the Bacteria and other Microscopic Organisms in their Environment..
I Frequently Observed the Swans Drinking the Cloud of Poop they Expelled
into the Pool Water. And NOT just their own, but from Another One
who had just added their Poop to the Mix. >>>YUCK, YUCK, YUCK ! !
The Clean Water Provided in a Barn is generally from a Tap/Well…
It is TOO Clean – Long Term. You may Start to see Wet Sloppy Poops.
IF You do Shelter your Swans during the Winter Months..
Try to Bring them Pond Water to Drink Several Times a Week..
This will Help their Immune System…
It is More Important for YOU to be SAFE then to bring Pond Water to them.
When your Pond is FROZEN Solid, you might ADD some Dirt
from near the Pond to your Clean Tap/Well Water ..
DO NOT USE Water from a Hot Water Tap for Drinking.
This may Contain Dissolved Heavy Metals.
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Water Buckets in a Barn can still Freeze,
Leaving the Swans with NOTHING to Drink.
There are Heated Water Dishes available from Farm Suppliers.
Check their Shelter Living Area for Sharp Objects and Tangle Hazards.
Swans get Bored and will TEST Everything.
Barns, Garages, Out Buildings and Sheds are Great for Storage…
Check for Things that Might Fall or Injure your Swans.
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Swans, especially the Trumpeters and Mutes HATE being Confined
in a Building or Shelter – they feel TRAPPED ! !
Their Primary Way of Protecting themselves is with their Wings
– to Fly Away or to FLOG !!
Pinioned Swans can not Fly to Escape Danger..
In a Building they can not Spread their Wings and Flog to Drive Off Predators.
It is TOO easy for them to become Cornered.
If you Shelter your Swans be sure to Close and Secure the Door when they are inside.
The Smaller Swans.. Black Australians and Black Necked Swans
have a harder time with Exposure during the Winter.
The Smaller Swans will be more Willing to Shelter at Night.
BE SURE to Secure the Door for the Night and let them out in the Morning.
ALL Swans are Subject to Frost Bite – Especially their Feet.
When Temperatures are Bitter Cold.. the Risk of Frostbite is Greater.
This will NOT Happen with their Webbed Feet in Water.
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Swans are BIG VERY Messy Birds..
LOTs of POOP Waste to Clean-Up.. Another BIG PAIN ! !
Their Enclosed Shelter gets DIRTY Fast ! !
Kidde Pools need almost Daily Cleaning. YUCK ! !
Having a Kidde Pool inside a Shelter is DIFFICULT to DUMP ! ! !
A Barn Stall with Straw for Bedding is a Pain to keep Clean and Dry.
Dirty, Wet Bedding-Straw will Develop all kind of Disease Risk..
Molds Promote Air Borne Diseases. Respiratory Diseases are Common.
Aspergillosis is a Common Fungal Disease
that infects the Respiratory Tract of Poultry.
It is Associated with Moldy Straw and has a Higher Incident if Hay is used for Bedding.
Infected Birds will be seen Gasping for Breath – a Sign of
Aspergillosis Pneumonia..
The Consequence is Increased Mortality Numbers.
Hay used as Bedding is Especially Prone to Developing Aspergillosis Spores.
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Then there is their Feed… Swans Do Not Eat ALL their Feed at One Time.
They are MESSY when Eating from Containers..
LOTs of Spillage to the Floor/Ground. Barn Rodents become a PROBLEM.
Rodents Soil their Feed with Urine, Dropping and Saliva.
Various Diseases are Spread to the Swans this way. YUCK ! !
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Consider the Swans’ Emotional Well-being..
Swans may become Very Depressed when they are not able to be Outside or in Water.
They NEED to Bathe to keep their Bottoms Clean and to Encourage Preening.
Frequent Bathing helps keep External Parasites in Check.
Swans Need to be Wet to Preen Normally.
Preening helps Condition their Plumage for Insulation and to Maintain WaterProofing.
The Swans’ Plumage has an Excellent Insulating Factor..
You will likely see the Swans Tuck their Feet up under their Wings at Times.
This Allow them to Warm their Feet in an area where their Feathers are not so Dense.
Swans have a Normal Body Temperature of 103 – 106 degrees F.
Passive-Resting 103 Degrees * Active-Stressed up to 106 Degrees.
At Night, they will often Snuggle their Beak under their Feathers.
In Severe Cold, it is possible for the Watery Fat in their Knob to Freeze.
This may Result in a Pinkish Scar. I have only seen this once.
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Waterfowl have Evolved to Conserve their Body Heat.
Some Physiological Mechanism in their Feet Allows their Blood
to Flow through their Webbed Feet and NOT lose Heat. (Amazing ! )
As long as Healthy Swans can keep their Feet in Liquid Water they
are able to keep Warm. Nature’s Magic.
Cold Liquid Water is Warmer then the Temperature Water Freezes at.
Air Temperature plus Wind Chill may be MUCH, MUCH Colder ! !
If Swans or Cygnets are “Frozen Out” of their Water then they are Subject
to the Air Temperature and if it is Cold Enough, they May/Will Freeze.
The Young Blue-Bill Juvenile Mute Swan in this Image Froze to Death.
I DO Know of Swans that Froze..
They are Helpless when they do NOT have Enough to Eat
and their Water Environment has Frozen.
In the Wild, Full-Winged Swans will Fly to find Open Water.
Your Full-Wing Swans might Fly Away if their Water Totally Freezes.
Mute Swans are NOT Migratory Swans.. they will only Fly to Find OPEN Water.
If you Observe your Swans Shivering.. they are trying to keep Warm.
Swans that are Handling the Cold will not Shiver Much. WATCH Them.
If >> Shivering Continues, << then it is Recommended to take them Inside for a While.
This is a Judgement Call.. Let them Rest in a Shelter..
OR Put some Straw Down in a Sunny Area, so they can Snuggle Down off the Cold Ground.
This is not much help if it Rains or Snows..
The Mute Swans’ Knob can help you Gauge their Weight – not Fool Proof.
Generally a Healthy Weight = A Nice Full Knob.
The Knob of Healthy Mute Swans will ENLARGE during the Winter Months.
Mature Healthy Mute Cob – Large Full Knob.
Maiden Mute Swan – Large Full Knob.
If you Notice a Knob Shrinking, the Swan may be Losing Weight.
Taking them Inside would give you a chance to Check their Weight.
Gently Feel them Across their Breast Area. The Keel Bone Should NOT be Prominent.
There should be a Rounding of the Pectorals – Breast Muscles on both Sides of the Keel Bone.
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From: Linda (To New Swan Owners who have First Year Cygnets.)
First Year Swan Cygnets NEED to Learn about ICE..
They are NOT Safe Frozen Out of their Pond Water..
They May Freeze and are Vulnerable to Predators.
Try to move Cygnets to their New Homes in the Fall.. by ThanksGiving.
Captive Cygnets do not have their Parents to Teach them about Winter.
Cygnets NEED to Learn where it is Safe to Spend their Time during the Winter Months.
Getting Healthy Cygnets through their First Winter and Seeing them OK in the Spring…
will be a Time of Learning for BOTH of you.
In Future Years, when they are more Mature and they will be Ready
to Deal with the Cold and Ice. Most will Learn and Remember..
In Late November, December, January, February and March Young Cygnets
are Experiencing their First Winter.
Swans are Safest in an Area of the Pond with Water at least 4 Feet Deep..
The Depth is more Important then the Diameter of the Opening in any Ice.
The Ice will be Thin Near the Open Water Area and will NOT Support much Weight.
** You DO NOT Want Predators to Reach the Swans.
Generally, the Lower your DeIcing Equipment the Larger the Opening.
Swans will try to find the Warmest Water in their Pond, even a Degree or Two Warmer.
***** Check at SunSet that Cygnets are IN Liquid Water.
*** Check in the Morning they are NOT Frozen Fast to the Ice.
**It Happens ! !
Have a Plan so you are Ready to Help any “Feathered Friend” Stuck in the Ice.
Keep in Mind that as it gets Colder..
these GROWING Cygnets will need MANY more Calories..
Increase their Feed Mixture Quantity when it is time for Total Winter Support..
A Healthy Diet their First Two Years will Benefit their Future.
If Your Cygnets are LESS then 20 Pounds..
Keep a VERY Close Watch as Days gets Cooler and Colder going into Winter.
A little Occasional Shivering is Expected.
But, if this Continues.. it would be BEST to Arrange to Shelter these Youngsters,
Especially at Night.
They are Still Growing. Harsh Weather will BURN TOO much Energy.
Outside on NICE Winter Days they will Bask in the SunShine.
Cygnets 20 Pounds Plus, Healthy and WELL Fed do OK in OPEN Water.
I have Worried over the Years, FEARED I might be Wrong,
Misjudging their Natural Ability to Deal with the Freezing Landscapes..
and been able to SIGH with LOUD Relief each Winter Morning..
Learning they are Just Fine.
Swans are Amazing Creatures. Nature has Prepared them Well.
In the Wild they will Fly to Save themselves – if Possible.
Observe the Smaller Waterfowl – How are the Ducks and Geese Doing ?
Daily Visits to Feed and Check on your Swans is Important.In Captivity, they Need us to Help them Survive.
Swan Cygnets NEED to Learn about “ICE.”
To the Cygnets, the Frozen Water under them should be Liquid.
This Hard, Cold, Stuff on their Pond is Unfamiliar.
AND it is Slippery.. When they try to Run on the Ice, they Wipe-OUT !!
They will Learn. (smile)
Their Natural “Instincts” may not have Winter in their Programming.
Dealing with the Cold, Ice and Snow are Part of their Learning Process.
Without their Parent to Teach them.. they NEED to Learn.
Given the chance Swans will Work-out many Problems..
And they Learn from their Experiences and each other.
Memories of a Young Female we had Years Ago:
Little “Hannah” was Bewildered by the Ice Forming around her.
I Watched her Bite and Poke at the Thin Ice with Annoyance.
“Hannah” was with an older Male (around 10 Years Old).
He had been through many Winter Months and Knew to Keep her
in the Open Water Areas of their Pond.
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IF you have ANY Doubt about what to DO..
Do what is Safest for the Swans.
The First Year for New Swan Owners is a Learning Process..
and the First Year for a Swan Cygnet is a Learning Process..
Then WE ALL Learn.. – PA SwanLover Linda
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ALL Swans NEED more Calories during Cold Weather.
About 30-40% More.
Increase their Feed Available so they have EXTRA Calories for Quick Energy to Stay Warm.
Cereals are Good Treats… Check Ingredient Label.
NO Yeast, Little to No Sugar or Salt… No Colors or Dye.
Plain Cheerios or Corn Flakes. Swans LOVE Bran Flakes and Kix.
Many Swans will Snort “Thank You.”
Check their Food, Feed and Vegetables are not Frozen.
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EVERY WINTER is Different – I ENJOY the Milder Ones..
and PREPARE for the Nasty Ones.
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If your Swans are on a Pond with a Vigorous Natural Spring that keeps
an Area of Water OPEN during the Coldest Weather..
Count Your Blessings.
Otherwise… Consider:
Having Equipment Ready for DeIcing – It is a Good Idea.
Be SURE you have SAFE Electrical Service.. GFCI
We had Licensed Electricians Install ours.. NOT a DIY Project for Me..
I am Adding the Below Information.. FYI ONLY.
Learn How To Safely Install a GFCI Outlet at The Home Depot
https://www.homedepot.com/c/installing_electrical_outlets_gfci_HT_PG_EL
Installing GFCI Outlets in ALL Wet or Damp Locations like Kitchens, Bathrooms,
Laundry Rooms and Basements are a Must to Meet the National Electrical Code.
We HIRED a Licensed Electrician.
Any DeIcing Equipment “Can” be used all Year Round for Pond Water Aeration
which is a GREAT Benefit to most Ponds.
Timers are Useful for Intermittent On/Off. Use as Desired..
Aeration-Circulation Helps Reduce Nuisance Surface Plant Growth due to Organic Decay.
It adds Oxygen to Lower Pond Water.
OPEN Area over Water that is at Least 4 Feet Deep helps Protect
Swans from Predators that may be Stalking them.
Various Methods of Deicing a Winter Pond are VERY Helpful..
None are appropriate for all Ponds..
A Websites with LOTs of Information
AirMax – Pond and Lake Aeration Systems
https://www.airmaxeco.com/category/aeration
KASCO Marine…Pond & Lake De-Icing – Kasco Marine
https://kascomarine.com/de-icers/pond-lake-de-icing/
YOU DO NOT WANT Equipment that uses HEAT.
You want Circulation.. Moving and Mixing Water.
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There are 4 Basic Types.. Every Pond Situation is Different.
These ALL Require having Electric Service Available.
(Fountain) Air-O-Lator – Aerators.. >>> Electric Cable in the Water.
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Bubble Diffusers.. Compressor and Weighted Air Hose in the Water.
NO Electric Cable in the Water.
We had this System Installed 2016 Runs 24/7 No Problems as of 2021.
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Bubble Hose.. Compressor and Weighted Air Hose in the Water.
NO Electric Cable in the Water.
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IF THERE is Electric available by the Pond.
Threading Electric Cable through PVC Conduit is Added Safety.
Loose Electrical Cables and Extensions are TANGLE HAZARDs.
And these are Vulnerable to Rodents Chewing on them.. >>Short-OUT !!
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A Submersible Pumps.. >>>> Electric Cable in the Water.
A Submersible Pump in a Large Bottom Bucket is an Inexpensive
“Just in Case” way to keep Pond Water Open..
Sump Pumps.. Some Folks use these.. >>>> Electric Cable in Water.
Submersible Pump for Open Pond Water in Winter
https://swanlovers.net/category/submersible-pump-for-open-water-in-winter/
NOTE” Winter 2017-2018, As I think back I am Aware..
The Pumps that Draw Water in and Discharge have a VERY Common Problem.
They PULL Leaves, Pine Needles, Twigs, Junk, etc…
Toward the Unit.. Clogging them. Frequent Cleaning May be Needed.
If your Pond has a lot of Debris.. these are a Pain..
If your Pond is Fairly Clean.. then these are Workable.
Another Hazard.. to be aware of..
DANGEROUS LEAKING ELECTRIC CURRENT in the WATER..
This Could Result in Electric Shock Drowning,
Potentially Electrocuting a Person Touching the Water.
Leading to Temporary Paralysis and the Inability to Move.
This Could Electrocute your Waterfowl..
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One Pond we Visit was having Problems keeping their Aerator Unit Running.
The GFCI would Trip-OFF after their Unit had Run for a while.
Not sure if Dampness was the Problem.. ???
Over and Over the Unit would Turn-OFF after Running for various Periods of Time.
The Electric Cable was Checked Several Times. Frustration – Undependable.
Fortunately, the Owner did notice there were Times All Swans and Ducks
would not get in the Water.. and other times All would be in..
Concern there was Electric Current in the Water,
they changed their DeIcing Equipment to a Compressor – Hose System..
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There are Products used as Indicators of Electric Current in the Pools, Ponds and Lakes.
Be CAREFUL you are Looking at Units for ELECTRIC CURRENT DETECTION.
An Internet Search found Several.
Reading the Product information and Customer Reviews would be helpful
in Selecting the Best for your Water Environment.
We have not used these.. With each Passing Year there may be More.
We are NOW ONLY using Compressor Diffuser DeIcers
NO Electric Cables in the Pond.
Protect Your Family and Waterfowl from Dangerous
and Potentially Fatal Electrical Shock in Water!
I did Consider this Product.. it is Sealed..
NO Batteries to Replace – the Complete Unit is Replaced when Batteries become Low.
Shock Alarm
https://shockalarm.com/
Another Type
A Shock Alert Water Voltage Detector
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Shock-Alert-Water-Voltage-Detector
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IN OUR TRAVELs and EXPERIENCEs.
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There are SO Many Types of DeIcing Systems now.. (2021)
If you consider installing an Air-O-Lator or other Aerators
with a Motorize Circulating Fan..
Ask the Sales People about a Grill over the Fan/Propeller..
Let them know you have Swans with LONG Necks..
The Propellers are Turning at a High Rate of Speed..
They could Easily Cut Beaks, Heads or Necks.
There are Under Dock Mounted Units.. (They Look like a Fan)
I have NO Experience.. but, they look Risky.
Swans are Nosey.. they like to put their Faces in the Fast Water Current.
We Used the Air-O-Lators on Two Different Ponds.
An Air-O-Lator Motor-Propeller Unit Suspended down 5 to 8 Feet.
Worked Great in the Summer to Circulation the Pond Water..
But, Two out of Three Winters they Quit when we NEEDed them Most.
One Year our Swans Chewed and Pulled at the Ropes Securing the Floatation
Until it CAME APART and Twisted to a STOP.
The Water FROZE and there was No Way to Safely get to it ! !
Earlier that Winter a Plastic Bag became TANGLED in the Propeller
and had to be Removed for it to Resume Spinning.
The Second Pond.. in October the Air-O-Lator was working Perfectly.
Mid-December it STOPPED – the Pond FROZE Again.
There was NO Safe way to Service the Unit..
We WORRIED Every Day and Night until Spring.
NEVER Again !!!!
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A SAD Note Summer 2016:
A Farm in Lancaster Co. lost a Swan this Summer..
The Very Low Water Level during the LONG Dry Spell allowed
the Aerator Support Ropes to become Limp-Loose..
One of their Females got her Neck Tangled in One of the Ropes
and basically hung herself.
The Farm has had their Aerator System for many, many years..
But, with this Summer’s lack of Rain their Pond was the lowest
it had ever been.. Never Dreamed the Ropes would be a Danger.
Any Loose Ropes are a Tangle Hazard.
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In 2016, we were making Winter Plans.
I was TIRED of all the Problems of the Aerator Types
and the Submersible Pump needed Frequent Cleaning in that Pond.
NO Fun in COLD Weather.
After LOTs of Reading I decided to try Robust-Aire Diffusers by KASCO.
These Bubble Diffusers are Placed on the Bottom of the Pond..
Air is Pumped through Weighted Hose to the Diffusers..
Streams of Bubbles move Water from the Bottom of the Pond
where the Water is Warmer.. to the Surface.
Nothing for the Swans to get hurt with, Except a Rope on the Location Bottle-Buoys
connected to the Diffusers.
These need to be kept Taunt, so the Swans can not get Tangled.
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Winter 2016-2017 >>>> 2021 All Worked WELL !!
*********
So Far Winter 2017-2018 the Diffusers are Doing their Job with NO Fuss.
As we Head into Winter 2018-2019 NO Operation Problems.
It is January 2021… The System is ON 24/7 Year Round.. NO Problems.
I am NOT Crazy about the Compressor Hum..
but, NO Electric Cord in the Water is a BIG Safety Feature.
With a Timer..
The Compressor may be used at Night.. for Quiet Days.
Winter Wake by SubSurface Diffusers
https://swanlovers.net/category/winter-wake-by-subsurface-diffusers/
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One Pond we Visit uses Bubble Hose.. and it works Very Well..
The Pond is Shallow at the End near the FarmHouse,
Not Deep Enough for the Air-O-Lator type of Aerator.
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The other Day Listening to the Weather Forecast they were Warning !!
that Areas might lose Power with the Bitter Cold.
A Power Outage – OH NO !!
Some Rural Areas might be without Power for Long Periods of Time.
If your DeIcing Equipment Stops and Water Freezes,
that would be a Time when taking Swans, Geese and Ducks into a Shelter
might be Necessary.
Trying to Rescue and Move Swans in Frigid Temperatures, when Ice is on
their/your Water Environment.. Lake – Pond, etc. can be VERY Dangerous.
DO NOT DO THIS BY YourSelf..
It is VERY Important to think Safety during the Winter..
You are Working and Moving around Water.. Ice..
Put your Safety First.
Safety is important. Ice Cleats might be something to think about.
We have used these for Years with GREAT Results.. NO Falls.
There are a Wide Variety of “Cleats” to Pull on to Boots & Shoes.
ANOTHER VERY HELPFUL EQUIPMENT – TREKKING POLES.
Very Helpful when Walking on Uneven Ground.
AND Walking Sticks – Have Many Uses..
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The BEST Thing you can do for your Swans is Prepare for Winter
during the Fall Months. …Have a Back-Up Plan.
AND then Feed them Daily so they have the Calories for Quick Energy
to keep them Warm and Healthy.
Plan ahead to Service a Feeding Station where YOU are Safe.
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I would Rather Enjoy Winter then Worry about It.
Winter is a Beautiful Time of Year with Healthy Swans.
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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 JUNE 2021
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Ice can be Dangerous and Beautiful.