In Good Order

Slim, Sue and the cygnets are proving to be a great holiday attraction on the riverside. Swans are particularly impressive when travelling in single file in good order. 

They have a structured lifestyle which are the envy of many parents, I suspect. 

As always I get asked many questions about their eating habits and diet, and of course their condition. 

One thing that often causes alarm and raised eyebrows, is when they tuck a leg up onto their back. 

This looks a little disturbing, but in fact is absolutely normal and all swans do it when relaxing, using only one leg. Unlike us, their joints are different and can swivel to allow rapid change of direction in the water. 

Meanwhile back home in the coop, the injured duck enjoys the company of her ducklings as she recovers. I have a half hour of mayhem every morning, catching her to clean out the coop, and give her the pain relief medication. She is a wild bird, and does not want to be handled or away from her brood, and kicks up a huge fuss. calm is only restored when returned to her babies !

New Growth

The cygnets are growing fast and new adult feathers beginning to sprout along their wings. The timing seems to be ideally suited to the new flight feathers sprouting along Penny's wings too. Penny is usually the one who teaches them to fly by September when Popeye will still be moulting. As usual, people keep wondering if there is something wrong with the cygnets legs because they have them resting on their backs from time to time. This is normal using only one leg when resting, and also as a means of body temperature control.