JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[~gd]

Here we are...Christmas is upon us. Are we all ready?? HECK NO!!! I still have to make the pumpkin bread, Banana nut bread, pumpkin pie, Chocolate chip cookies, I have ONE more day to get it done...tomorrow. Plus, I have to go to the feed store tomorrow, and the store, before noon! Today was a wasted day, as far as getting anything done around here....other than....taking in a SWAN! Yep, thats right...a Mute Swan came into the rescue...and they asked me to take it in. ( you know, because I have nothing else to do) The story we are getting on the swan is....it is a youngen. This last springs hatch. Apparently it flew into power lines, and hit the ground hard. Someone got it and took it to an Avian vet, where it was taken care of for a few days. Then the vet called our rescue, and said if we can't come get it, it will be put down. :/ Poor thing. Seems to be fine...I don't know a whole lot about them, but, I can tell you...they are MEAN AS DEVILS!!!!! See, we placed it in a stall...with a big trough of water, and a pan of feed. I didn't want it on the pond due to its neurological status. Seems to be still very disoriented. So, we put the crate in the stall...made sure the fencing was secure so it couldn't get out....and I placed the water and feed just outside the door of the crate. Took the door off the crate, and stepped out, fully expecting this thing to shoot out of there like a demon. It looked at me, cocked it head, and gave a loud hiss! YIKES! I jumped back, and secured the stall door. Leaving it to recover from the trip. After about 2 hrs, I went to check on it....still in the crate. Now I was worried, thinking maybe it can't walk or stand? So, I went in...sheepishly...and tipped up the crate, sliding the swan out of the crate. Now I am wondering HOW did they get this MONSTER in that medium crate?? It came out of there like " the blob" and just sat on the straw floor. I splashed in the water...shook the feed pan...it just watched me, not even trying to stand. So, again, I leave the stall....talking softly to this creature...backing out. I took a few pictures...but wanted to see just how tall it was...so I got a broom handle, and gently poked at it to try to make it stand...nothing...this worried me...so I poked it a few more times....O M G !!!!! This monster jumped up...beat the broom stick with its massive 6 ft wing span, grabbed the broomstick in its beak, and was trying to wrestle it from my hands. There was NO WAY I was letting go of that stick. I was afraid if it had a weapon, it might use it on me!!! It finally let go and I retreated from the area. I tell ya, I think I peed a little. Scared the stuffing out of me! The sheep ran from the barn..as if this monster was chasing them. Of course, the swan can not get out of the stall, so the sheep are safe...I think. LOL
So, I decided to leave the monster sleep...and I came back to the house. After about an hour, I looked out to the barn, and the sheep are standing at the door, looking in, and bawling. So I get my boots on again...and head out to the barn, to make sure the swan was not loose. Oh, its not...but the sheep are too scared to go in the barn, for now. I was able to get them in with some feed...and let them know that the monster in the cage could not get them. My little April walked over to investigate the creature in the stall, and the swan gave a loud hiss. Poor April...ran from the barn like she was lit on fire. I guess the sheep will be sleeping outside tonight. So, here are a few pictures I snapped of the beast.

Peek-a-boo....I see you!
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/uploads/99_dsc02105.jpg

Here it is...in all its glory...well, sorta
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/uploads/99_dsc02113.jpg

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/uploads/99_dsc02112.jpg

By the coloring, I know it is a young swan. By next spring, after it moults, the brown coloring will be gone.

What are my plans?? Oh, I have NO IDEA!! There is NO WAY I am turning this monster loose on MY property...HECK NO!!! I am hoping to find it a home next spring...I think...at least....thats the plan for now.

 

[~gd]

if i had a pnd id take him in a heart beat, swans are protected in the UK but ive always adored them and yes they can be EXTREEMLY mean.
once he gets to trust you (bread seems to always do the trick) hell be alot more friendly, there much like geese in terms of personailtiy but he realy needs a buddy at maturity...

Good luck with him, hes going to be a beauty!

Here in the USA they are considered Invasive Non Native. I thought they had to be pinioned not just cliping a few feathers. Reason is that they can go feral and when they do they tend to take over a large amount of water and prohibit other waterfowl from using it. I beleive the feds encourage hunters to blast them out of the air.

 

[justusnak]

gd, that's what I was understanding as well. I don't know if this one was pinioned or not...and I didn't think to ask the Avian vet. Is there a way I can personally tell....without getting my head beat off with its wings?? LOL

 

[~gd]

gd, that's what I was understanding as well. I don't know if this one was pinioned or not...and I didn't think to ask the Avian vet. Is there a way I can personally tell....without getting my head beat off with its wings?? LOL

Poke it with a pole? A looooog pole!If it starts wing beating try to get a look at both wings [only one needs to be pinioned] failure to extend the wing tip would be the only sign if it was done right.

 

[justusnak]

Well, from what I could see....it was NOT pinioned. And, I didn't have to poke it...all I did was walk up to the stall, and the freakin thing attacked the wall!! Beating its wings, hissing, Oh jeesh, what have I gotten myself into?? This is one scary swan! LOL

 

[Britesea]

My girlfriend had a swan fly in and take over their backyard one year. No one could go out there without being attacked. In desperation, her husband threw some Cheerios at it to hopefully keep it occupied while he ran out to take the garbage out. Apparently the Cheerios did it; after that, the swan followed him around like a puppy. She learned to tolerate the rest of the family, even the dog, but she out and out adored the husband. She stayed with them for something like 5 years, until she apparently ran afoul (no pun intended) of a cougar. Apparently she was sleeping too close to the cage wall and the cat was able to reach in and claw her.

 

[justusnak]

So, maybe if I buy some cheerios I can make friends with Swanzilla?? This thing really terrifies me! I am hoping to have it a home shortly after Christmas. HOPING!

 

[Denim Deb]

Oh my! Your story is funny-cuz it didn't happen to me!

 

[pinkfox]

cherious or bread, they seem to realy like carbs in general lol. we alwasy took stale bred to the pond for the swans and theyd gome begging for it

 

[justusnak]

OK, so I found a local rehab place to take the swan. The woman I talked to was sweet and assuring that I could just walk into the pen with a blanket, throw said blanket over the swans head, and it would lay right down....then just scoop it up and place it in the carrier. Hmmm, ok....sounds easy enough....for SOMEONE ELSE! She wanted to meet me the day I called her, to get the swan. So, I pulled up my big girl panties...and headed tot he barn. ( Yes, my big girl panties are depends):/ As I pulled up to the barn, I saw the neighbors son outside. A small sigh of relief escapes me....So I hollar to him, I needed help. Now....this "boy" is 16 going on 30 and a "true know it all" He is not afraid of anything, so he tells it. Once he gets to my truck, I inform him I have 2 favors to ask of him....One, was to take a bag of feed into the barn for me. See, start small...work your way up LOL He says, Oh, ok, thats easy, and as we are walking into the barn, he asks, so what ( here is where he left off) WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!???? As the swan stands as tall as it can, and hisses at us. I sorta giggle and say, that's my next "favor" I show him the blanket, and explain the "so easy" process of entering the stall, and tossing the blanket over the swan, how it would just lay down for us to pick it up and put in the crate. This kid looks at me like I have lost my mind! He said...Yeah right! You want ME to get in there with THAT? I am trying NOT to laugh out loud, and praying inside he doesn't back out on me...so I wave cold cash in front of him..and say, I will give you $5.00 if you do. I can see the wheels turning in his little mind. He grabs the blanket, and approaches the door. I unlock it, and start to open the door when he slams it shut and say's " wait!!!! I am not ready! He hikes up his pants....and opens the blanket, the whole time, Swanzilla is hissing, and stretching it's wings as far open as it can....looking very intimidating. I throw a few words of encouragement to the boy....telling him..." it's easy, make yourself look bigger than it is...hold the blanket high....all the time in my mind hoping this kid does NOT back out on me. First attempt.....he takes a half of a step into the stall...flings the blanket at the swan, and runs out. Missed! And, Swanzilla just walks over and stands on the blanket, claiming it as HIS blanket. Oh jeesh, now we are screwed. We both stand there with our jaws dropped, as we watch the swan do a victory dance on the blanket, wings spread open, neck stretched up, and hissing. So I grabbed the rake, and tell him, we will just reach in there with this, and drag the blanket back out. HA! Swanzilla was NOT afraid of the rake, as I reached in he was wing beating the rake the whole time. ( this is where the depends come in handy) I get the blanket, and we both laugh...and he is ready to give it another try. He opened the blanket wide, and steps in, with only the blanket between him and the monster. Like it is some sort of steel shield! Hold it high, move slow, easy now, don't miss! As he steps towards the swan, it backs away from him giving the boy a bit more courage. He tossed the blanket over the swan..and guess what?? IT LAID DOWN!! Just like she said it would! I rush in to grab the swan, and pick it up...and with the blanket still over its head...place it in the crate, and get the door shut. Whew! What a rush. He loads the swan in my truck, I slip him a $10, and off I go to meet with the rehab lady. I am SO GLAD to be rid of this monster!! This all happened Thursday...and Friday... I was brought another rescue...This one I think I might be able to handle.....I would like you all to meet.....FREEDOM!

Freedom was found running loose in a city park....either dumped or was an escapee. He was taken to ACC and was held there for 2 weeks, no one claimed him, so they asked us to take him and find him a good home. Well....he has found a home...I think...with me!! Such a sweetie...Once I get the clean bill of health, and he is comfortable, I want to train him to pull a cart...I think..LOL So...that is how our year ended.