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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?

🦢

OP posts:
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7
DNAwrangler · 15/03/2025 02:13

Ah swans. For some reason they really hate my sister. If one spots her, it sort of goes rigid and the world stops turning for a few seconds. Then it launches itself and she starts running…

ApocalypseNowt · 15/03/2025 02:09

I got attacked by a gang of ducks once. Swans have always been chill.

Jane958 · 15/03/2025 02:06

I have had roast swan.

CrocsNotDocs · 15/03/2025 02:03

One of the fuckers stole my sandwich at Stratford-Upon-Avon. I was a poor Aussie student on a cheap-arse bus tour where they didn’t feed us enough and I had spent my day’s budget on this marvellous Enid Blyton-esque sandwich. Fucker.

Kennobi · 15/03/2025 01:56

I once saw a swan hold up a road because he decided to walk along it. Not across, but along. He had much longer legs than you might think and he splayed each one in a wonky sort of way before taking his big flat step, like Charlie Chaplin. A bloke got out of his van and tried to shoo the swan out of the way but he was having none of it - curled his neck like an S, arched his wings and hissed at him, then chased him. So the bloke legged it back to his van and just drove really slowly behind the swan, with a massive line of traffic behind them both. It was like a ceremonial procession.

I don't know what happened next because I had to catch the bus (on a different road). Maybe they're all still proceeding along, somewhere.

That is my swan story.

XenoBitch · 15/03/2025 01:20

TooBigForMyBoots · 15/03/2025 01:18

Is it just me or are all birds more violent and unreasonable these days?🤔🦅🦅🦩

Edited
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Cost of living crisis, innit 😂

TooBigForMyBoots · 15/03/2025 01:18

Lost20211 · 15/03/2025 00:29

Yes. Fecking birds.

Is it just me or are all birds more violent and unreasonable these days?🤔🦅🦅🦩

DramaAlpaca · 15/03/2025 01:15

Swans can be vicious bastards. One of them tried to drown my dog in a completely unprovoked attack.

My lovely unsuspecting spaniel jumped into the lake to fetch a stick I'd thrown. Normal enough walk, dog off lead but his recall is excellent. Even so, if I'd seen the swan I wouldn't have let him off lead or let him swim in the lake.

So dog had swum out after the stick and was bringing it back to me when this swan appeared out of nowhere, chased doggo down and hopped on his back, flapping its wings and pecking at his head. It was trying to push my terrified dog under the water by stamping its feet on his back.

Poor dog swam like mad for the shore, encouraged by me and a couple of horrified bystanders. He made it, thankfully, complete with his favourite stick, but it was a vicious attack and if my dog hadn't been a strong swimmer he'd have been in serious trouble.

Swans normally keep to themselves at a dignified distance but this one clearly perceived my dog as a threat so I guess there must've been a nest or cygnets around.

A swan in full attack mode is a scary thing and deserves treating with respect.

Agapornis · 15/03/2025 00:29

Swans aren't unreasonable.
Geese aren't unreasonable.
Humans ARE unreasonable for going into their territory.

For clarity, anywhere with a swan or goose present is their territory.

But if you must - burrito them in a towel, then stick them in an Ikea bag.

Are Swans being unreasonable?
Lost20211 · 15/03/2025 00:29

Yes. Fecking birds.

PixieTales · 15/03/2025 00:26

I have had some bad swan experiences…never broken my arm but they are very aggressive!

Saphire123 · 15/03/2025 00:23

Dreamskies · 14/03/2025 22:26

I’ve apprehended a swan before now (I was helping it, I promise 🤣) and they’re not particularly strong.

They have a bit of a bite on them though if you hand feed them, they have a tendency to grab your fingers with their serrated beaks 😫

True, as I know to my cost. I was handfeeding one and in it's haste to grab the food, it bit my thumb and drew blood.
Considering they don't have teeth, their beaks are lethal, it really hurt.😓

XenoBitch · 15/03/2025 00:23

My grandad had a cockerel that put 2 men in hospital. Nasty little bugger.

EBearhug · 15/03/2025 00:22

Haveanaiceday · 14/03/2025 23:56

Another well known fact about swans is they all belong to Her late Majesty The Queen.

No they don't. Abbotsbury Swannery owns its own swans, and some on the Thames belong to the Vinters and Dyers livery companies.

They ate cygnet rather than full grown swans.

QueenOfHiraeth · 15/03/2025 00:21

Dreamskies · 14/03/2025 22:36

I adore geese 💞 so cute and funny, and they can’t bite anywhere near as hard as a swan, I actually find them very gentle. I always wonder why geese get such a bad rep while swans are seen as the elegant, majestic ones 🤣

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Geese are not cute and funny I have been bitten by one, totally unprovoked and very traumatic.
Never had my arm broken by a swan though

BlondiePortz · 15/03/2025 00:18

Maybe the goose wants to indetify as a Swan?

murasaki · 15/03/2025 00:05

St John's College, Cambridge can also eat them, or that's what I was told. I did go to formal hall there several times, but no swans were on the menu.

Haveanaiceday · 14/03/2025 23:56

Another well known fact about swans is they all belong to Her late Majesty The Queen.

Purplebunnie · 14/03/2025 23:54

Geese are fucking vile creatures. I have just cause to hate them

Swans on the other hand are so beautiful, but yes I treat them with respect

maggiecate · 14/03/2025 23:49

They can give you a good wallop. The much-missed Simon from Wildlife Aid Foundation got thumped by one when he was rescuing its cygnet

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 14/03/2025 23:43

I personally know thirty seven people who have had their arms broken by a swan.

It was the same swan, too.

His name was Silas.

Original poster
Glittercloud17 · 14/03/2025 23:43

RainySaturday · 14/03/2025 23:38

My friend's friend broke her arm running from a swan. Does that count?

Edited

No

OP posts:
unsync · 14/03/2025 23:39

We're always very wary when we're swimming if there's a swan with cygnets. We give them a wide berth and try to appear non threatening. I've seen them chase kayaks. When you're on their level in the water, they are quite impressive and rather fearsome.

RainySaturday · 14/03/2025 23:38

My friend's friend broke her arm running from a swan. Does that count?

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