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Original poster

Are Swans being unreasonable?

158 replies

Glittercloud17 · 14/03/2025 22:23

dance dancing GIF

Genuine question: Are Swans Being Unreasonable?

Has anyone ever actually had their arm broken by a swan? It’s something we have all said at some point, but has it ever actually happened to you or anyone you know?

🦢

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7
Novotelchok · 20/03/2025 17:39

Useyourfork · 19/03/2025 13:08

To make friends with a swan to bow to it and if it bows back then it likes you 😊

Isn't that for Hippogriffs?!
Might also work on the King

Arghgerroffyabastard · 20/03/2025 17:33

Useyourfork · 19/03/2025 13:08

To make friends with a swan to bow to it and if it bows back then it likes you 😊

That’s hippogriffs

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/03/2025 13:35

Swans are intrinsically, inherently and unapologetically unreasonable.

Hardly surprising when they've had to deal with humans for so long.

HTH.

Needmorelego · 19/03/2025 13:09

Useyourfork · 19/03/2025 13:08

To make friends with a swan to bow to it and if it bows back then it likes you 😊

Ooh I'm going to try that......I'm brave 😁

Useyourfork · 19/03/2025 13:08

To make friends with a swan to bow to it and if it bows back then it likes you 😊

Tangerinenets · 19/03/2025 07:40

Not a swan but my aunty got her leg broken by an angry goose, it was her own goose too 😂. My husband got badly attacked by a seagull a couple of years ago whilst fixing a roof where they obviously had a nest. Luckily he was wearing a hat !

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 19/03/2025 07:33

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:47

Just be aware that the King owns all mute swans in open waters, so no nonsense with them or you'll get a sharp massive from Sandringham.

In green ink.

Original poster
Glittercloud17 · 18/03/2025 09:32

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:47

Just be aware that the King owns all mute swans in open waters, so no nonsense with them or you'll get a sharp massive from Sandringham.

But if they’re mute, they can’t talk. So no snitches

OP posts:
Original poster
Glittercloud17 · 18/03/2025 09:31

Bruisername · 18/03/2025 09:00

Nature is cruel. I saw something awful on safari which still hits me when I think of it but I have to remind myself not to anthropomorphise animals.

we had ducklings at my school and the mother duck managed to lose one,2 run over, 2 eaten by foxes and she was left with one. Apparently ducks are hopeless parents though

Care to share?

OP posts:
Mia184 · 18/03/2025 09:17

Hamburg in Germany adores its swans and puts them into a safe area during the winter months. The swans know the drill and stay calm during the trip on the boats.

Are Swans being unreasonable?
Bruisername · 18/03/2025 09:00

Nature is cruel. I saw something awful on safari which still hits me when I think of it but I have to remind myself not to anthropomorphise animals.

we had ducklings at my school and the mother duck managed to lose one,2 run over, 2 eaten by foxes and she was left with one. Apparently ducks are hopeless parents though

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 18/03/2025 08:57

XenoBitch · 17/03/2025 23:13

My mum's dog managed to catch and injure a crow.
A load of crows came out of nowhere... all cawing etc.
They surrounded the injured crow and ripped it to shreds.

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Christ 😲

Original poster
Glittercloud17 · 18/03/2025 05:50

Bruisername · 17/03/2025 22:22

I still haven’t forgiven pelicans for eating pigeons tbh

Savage

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 17/03/2025 23:13

Saphire123 · 17/03/2025 00:27

Nature is cruel.
We saw a crane diving down to take off, one by one, a family of ducklings. He managed to take the lot.
I cried.😥

Show quote history

My mum's dog managed to catch and injure a crow.
A load of crows came out of nowhere... all cawing etc.
They surrounded the injured crow and ripped it to shreds.

Bruisername · 17/03/2025 22:22

I still haven’t forgiven pelicans for eating pigeons tbh

Emanresu52 · 17/03/2025 22:20

I feed my local swans, the male by hand but they are always miserable. Always fighting ducks, pecking each other and hissing. They need to chill out and cheer up. No broken arms but I was told a few years back that one had drowned a small dog who swam out too near the cygnets, possibly an urban myth but possible.

FNDCausedByAntipsychotic · 17/03/2025 11:53

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:45

No, no, no. Swans are very tolerant. Mind you, being able to fly off is a distinct advantage.

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Flying away from farts in a confined space like a yoga class would be a very advantageous superpower.

Needmorelego · 17/03/2025 11:24

I just went to see my local Mr and Mrs Swan. I was hoping they might have babies (none yet).
Their patch of water where they hang out was full of rubbish. Floating carrier bags. Loads of plastic bottles.
Urgh.
If I was a swan I think I'd quite enjoy breaking the arms of humans.

Bruisername · 17/03/2025 10:47

Glittercloud17 · 17/03/2025 10:41

How did it break his arm? I need details in order to believe the swan is capable of a wrestling manoeuvre

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Well I wasn’t there but my understanding was that he was reaching into get his boat away from the swan and it went for him pecking and hitting and my grandad had to get it off him with a stick. Exciting stuff.

he was a child though so perhaps easier to break an arm

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:47

Just be aware that the King owns all mute swans in open waters, so no nonsense with them or you'll get a sharp massive from Sandringham.

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:45

FNDCausedByAntipsychotic · 16/03/2025 21:28

No LTB? At all? Even if their mate screamed in the Sistine chapel or did t rex in the supermarket? Or even worse, snapped and farted during yoga?

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No, no, no. Swans are very tolerant. Mind you, being able to fly off is a distinct advantage.

LeticiaMorales · 17/03/2025 10:43

5foot5 · 14/03/2025 22:44

Not quite the same thing, but Canada Geese seem to be everywhere these days. Flocks of them. And each one can produce 700g of poo per day.

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They have ruined Golders Hill Park.

Original poster
Glittercloud17 · 17/03/2025 10:41

Bruisername · 16/03/2025 18:40

A very long time ago my dad and his friend were playing with their boats on the lake and a swan broke his friends arm. So we’ve always had the warning.

also not climbing up a slide due to bad family experience

now climbing up a slide with a swan at the top - that’s dangerous

How did it break his arm? I need details in order to believe the swan is capable of a wrestling manoeuvre

OP posts:
Saphire123 · 17/03/2025 00:27

PluckedOutOfThinAir · 17/03/2025 00:16

I saw a Swan kill a duckling a few years ago. It was genuinely harrowing and I still feel so bad for that duckling.

Also, one of the park lakes that I used to visit daily had three swans. A couple and another male swan. One day we found the third wheel Swan dead and ripped to shreds. I don't have proof but we always suspected the other two swans.

Nature is cruel.
We saw a crane diving down to take off, one by one, a family of ducklings. He managed to take the lot.
I cried.😥

JaceLancs · 17/03/2025 00:22

I got accosted by a swan many years ago whilst camping at a national trust campsite in the Lake District on the shores of said Lake
Swan decided it wanted our food which I was cooking at the time and gave me a very nasty peck/arm wrestle! No bones broken but bruises and abrasions
DD was primary school age at the time and witnessed it all - she is now in her 30s and has a phobia about swans
I am more forgiving but give them a wide berth