Swanlets › Feeding swans properly
Feeding swans properly
Feeding swans is a pleasure, but the usual bag of white bread does more harm than good. Here is what to bring instead, and when it is best to leave the birds alone.
Why bread is a poor choice
Bread fills birds up without giving them the nutrients they need. Swans that eat a lot of it may skip natural food such as water plants, and young birds fed on poor diets can develop a wing condition sometimes called angel wing, in which the wing feathers twist outward and the bird cannot fly. Bread that is not eaten sinks and rots, fouling the water, feeding algae and attracting rats and gulls. The Canal & River Trust, which looks after canals and rivers in England and Wales, asks visitors not to feed bread to waterfowl and suggests better alternatives.
Better foods
- Oats, uncooked and plain: porridge oats or rolled oats are widely recommended.
- Peas and sweetcorn, defrosted if frozen and uncooked.
- Cracked corn or wheat and specially made waterfowl pellets from pet or farm shops, which float.
- Chopped greens, such as lettuce or cabbage, ripped small.
Avoid salty, sugary or processed foods such as crisps, biscuits, cake and chips. Mouldy food is dangerous for all birds.
How to feed them
- Scatter small amounts on the water rather than on the path, so that swans do not come out of the water near children or traffic.
- Give only what they eat in a few minutes. Anything left over will pollute.
- Keep your distance, especially in spring when a pair may be nesting; read about cygnets and nesting.
- Do not feed from a bridge over a busy road or from a boat deck where you might fall in.
- Wash your hands afterwards.
When not to feed
Do not feed wild birds if there are bird flu (avian influenza) notices in the area. Government guidance tells people not to touch or pick up dead or sick wild birds, and to report them. In the UK you can report dead swans, geese, ducks and gulls, or other wild birds in groups of more than five, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77; check gov.uk for the current guidance, as this can change. Wash your hands, and keep pets away, if you have been near a pond where birds have died.
Are swans dependent on us?
No, wild swans mainly eat water plants and algae, and graze grass. Park swans may become used to hand-outs. The best thing you can do for the birds is to keep the water clean: take litter and fishing tackle home, because discarded hooks and lines injure swans. If you do find an injured bird, our page on helping an injured swan tells you what to do.
Winter feeding
When ponds freeze, swans can find it hard to feed. Small amounts of the foods listed above can help, but do not break the ice or walk on it. Reserves such as Welney put out grain for wild swans in winter, as explained on where to see swans.
Frequently asked questions
Can swans eat bread?
They can swallow it, but it is poor food and pollutes the water. Charities including the Canal & River Trust suggest oats, peas, corn or lettuce instead.
Is it safe to feed swans during bird flu?
Follow the latest government guidance and local notices. Avoid touching sick or dead birds and report them to the Defra helpline.
What is angel wing?
A wing deformity where the feathers twist outward, linked with poor diet in young waterbirds.