The Cygnets are growing up!

During the month of July the cygnets got much bigger. Their soft down was starting to change into stubby feathers.

I also gave them the run of my back garden when the new fence was erected.

By now they were enjoying their swims and games in the paddling pool.

The cygnets were happy to share the garden, the pool and the pen with injured ducks that were recovering and a few clutches of ducklings!

Each evening they were put into the secure pen so that they would be safe from predators overnight.

By the middle of August they were fully feathered and growing rapidly.

Their appetites were growing also. They enjoyed larger amounts of poultry pellets in water in a much larger trough. This they ate enthusiastically morning and evening. In the middle of the day they consumed large amounts of shredded lettuce, cabbage and carrots. For the greens I must thank Joyce's Supermarket, Knocknacarra, Galway. The staff there were very generous to the cygnets and were very interested in their progress.

As September wore on I knew the cygnets were ready for release. Before I let them go I weighed each one. The heaviest one was 8.8kg. and the lightest of the four was 6.5kg. Didn't they do well?


We released the four of them at 2.30pm. on Saturday 3rd. October, 2009 in the Claddagh at the mouth of the river Corrib. They were so happy to have lots of water space! I hoped they would be safe. Immediately they swam away and explored the area. I had many anxious moments that evening and during the next two days trying to locate them. After that they settled in the Claddagh. We are still supplementing their feeding a little. I am glad to report that 3 weeks later they continue to make great progress. The other swans and cygnets have accepted them fully.

Many wellwishers came to watch the release and take photographs.

Rescued Cygnets

A clutch of cygnets were seen in distress and without parents close to Spanish Arch. They were being taken out to sea by the current. A member of the public rescued them from the water. Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue was contacted. Imelda took them home and kept them warm under an infra-red lamp. Meanwhile another lone cygnet was rescued from the canal. All this happened during the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The first clutch were only a few days old. The lone cygnet was about 3 weeks old.
I took them home to Knocknacarra. The four cygnets were very comfortable together under the infra-red lamp. It was not long until they got the 'hang' of eating chick pellets soaked in water. They formed a family group. It was lovely to see the oldest one looking after the three little ones!

After 2 weeks they were ready to live in a pen in my back garden. They enjoyed the space and the paddling pool. By then they were eating very well and growing rapidly. At this stage they need lots of green vegetables in their diet. I want to thank Joyce's Supermarket, Knocknacarra, for supplying copious amounts of lettuces, cabbage and carrots, which I had to shred for them every day!