Grass and Grain Feed

Lack of river weed means the Swans are grateful for any greenery that comes their way. Pulling some fresh tender lawn type grass is free, and much better for them than any kind of white bread - You wont get bothered by seagulls either ! Good food for growing swans is whole wheat grain, this is also good for the ducks and it sinks. The ducks can reach down up to five or six inches deep, and the swans about two and a half feet, so if you don't want bothered by gulls, buy a sack of Wheat, costs about £9-40 for 20kg. 

Two Months Old

5 days old

The cygnets are now two months old and looking more like young swans everyday. The weather has been awful with continuous spates and all the river vegetation washed away. To make matters worse, the beach seaweed has disappeared with the encroaching sandbar smothering everything. The last few years floods have dramatically changed the local environment and with it the swans natural food supply. Last year I started to give them winter food supply in August because of the big flood, now It's only July but with recent spates the river has been cleaned out once again ! The annual cost of feeding the Swans and ducks is now around £1400, partly due to the increase cost of wheat. This does not include vets costs or picking fresh grass and the like ! Climate change is obvious to me and river wildlife habitat, but I will continue to provide what I can for the love of these beautiful creatures !

Penny Takes a Nap

Mid February and the Spring like weather continues...until Winter returns at the weekend ! The ducks are pairing off and some have already dispersed away from the estuary, but will probably return with any bad weather. Meanwhile the Swans are biding their time eating and resting well. They are in excellent condition enjoying a tasty diet of wheat grain, poultry pellets, carrots (short vid below)and Penny's favourite - fresh moist wholemeal rolls when available ! After such a feast she often drifts into a satisfying sleep.