Discussion
As it was mentioned on another thread, everyone has been told many times throughout their life that a Swan can break a man's arm. I know they can be vicious b
ds but I'm looking at a picture of one now and I really doubt that it can do that much damage. It just doesn't look physically capable.
Has anyone on here ever been physically abused by a swan and suffered broken bones?
As the Swan is protected by The Queen, I'm not sure on what the protocol is if being attacked by one. I highly doubt she would get personally involved but I'd hate to get taken away by a Swan Protection Officer if I did retaliate. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to pre-emptively strike a swan if it starts getting cocky and looking at my arm.
Visiting the local boating lake isn't as relaxing as it used to be.
ds but I'm looking at a picture of one now and I really doubt that it can do that much damage. It just doesn't look physically capable.Has anyone on here ever been physically abused by a swan and suffered broken bones?
As the Swan is protected by The Queen, I'm not sure on what the protocol is if being attacked by one. I highly doubt she would get personally involved but I'd hate to get taken away by a Swan Protection Officer if I did retaliate. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to pre-emptively strike a swan if it starts getting cocky and looking at my arm.
Visiting the local boating lake isn't as relaxing as it used to be.
HBLC said:
As it was mentioned on another thread, everyone has been told many times throughout their life that a Swan can break a man's arm. I know they can be vicious bds but I'm looking at a picture of one now and I really doubt that it can do that much damage. It just doesn't look physically capable.
Has anyone on here ever been physically abused by a swan and suffered broken bones?
As the Swan is protected by The Queen, I'm not sure on what the protocol is if being attacked by one. I highly doubt she would get personally involved but I'd hate to get taken away by a Swan Protection Officer if I did retaliate. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to pre-emptively strike a swan if it starts getting cocky and looking at my arm.
Visiting the local boating lake isn't as relaxing as it used to be.
You lead a very stress free life don't youds but I'm looking at a picture of one now and I really doubt that it can do that much damage. It just doesn't look physically capable.Has anyone on here ever been physically abused by a swan and suffered broken bones?
As the Swan is protected by The Queen, I'm not sure on what the protocol is if being attacked by one. I highly doubt she would get personally involved but I'd hate to get taken away by a Swan Protection Officer if I did retaliate. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to pre-emptively strike a swan if it starts getting cocky and looking at my arm.
Visiting the local boating lake isn't as relaxing as it used to be.
I rode through this ford and past this swan last week. It was not going to move. In fact in gave me a look of utter contempt as I disturbed it's tranquil paddle.
As I rode past it did eventually march forward in a military manner. I reckon it had big guns. I most certainly would've broken something had it knocked me off my MTB. Probably my pride, or maybe my bell. Thankfully I wasn't carrying any cabbages.
It hasn't been there since. I think it's planning a strategic attack. I've informed both my Chickens and my Ducks and they are planning a counter attack.
As I rode past it did eventually march forward in a military manner. I reckon it had big guns. I most certainly would've broken something had it knocked me off my MTB. Probably my pride, or maybe my bell. Thankfully I wasn't carrying any cabbages.
It hasn't been there since. I think it's planning a strategic attack. I've informed both my Chickens and my Ducks and they are planning a counter attack.
Edited by Gretchen on Wednesday 17th July 23:27
Papa Hotel said:
No. Your arm is thicker and stronger than a swan's. If it hit you hard enough to break your arm, it'd break its own wing, that'd be a death sentence for a wild bird so it's not a viable tactic.
This has put my mind at rest. I'm going to walk with a bit of a swagger around the boating lake tomorrow knowing that if a swan were to go for my arm, it would f**k itself up in the process.HBLC said:
This has put my mind at rest. I'm going to walk with a bit of a swagger around the boating lake tomorrow knowing that if a swan were to go for my arm, it would f**k itself up in the process.
It won't though. It knows it'd hurt itself more, the wing-flapping and all that st is just bluff and bluster. It might try to take a peck but it also knows it has a long and thin neck. On land, you've nowt to fear from them.
Disco You said:
I was discussing with some friends what we thought swan might taste like... We didn't get far beyond "like duck". Anyone else have some ideas?
I've heard (IIRC on QI) they taste like 'fishy chicken'Also IIRC The Queen only 'owns' the Mute species of Swan... so you 'could' find another species of Swan and find out*
*wouldn't recommend it though, cause its probably still very illegal
Having had legal reason to catch a number of swans I can say that they certainly don't flap their wings as an attack however if they do hit you with their wings in an attempt to escape it can leave a very nasty bruise and does hurt.
I can imagine they would only cause a broken bone in the very very frail however.
I can imagine they would only cause a broken bone in the very very frail however.
Her Maj only exercises her ownership on some of the swans on the Thames;
stuff said:
Today, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries.
This ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century. Nowadays, of course, the swans are no longer eaten.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/royaleventsandceremonies/s...This ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century. Nowadays, of course, the swans are no longer eaten.
otolith said:
Her Maj only exercises her ownership on some of the swans on the Thames;
FiL is a fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, who are also permitted to eat swan. 'Fishy chicken' is how he described it.stuff said:
Today, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries.
This ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century. Nowadays, of course, the swans are no longer eaten.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/royaleventsandceremonies/s...This ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century. Nowadays, of course, the swans are no longer eaten.
[url]the Swan Sanctury|http://www.theswansanctuary.org.uk/faq.php[/ul] - Is it true that a swan's wing can break your arm?
Yes, but only in exceptional cases. If a wing in full span and velocity were to hit a weak-boned person (such as a child or an elderly person) then it is theoretically possible. In reality it is almost unheard of and is never used as a form of attack as swans are a defensive bird. The only time they become aggressive is when they are protecting their nesting ground or cygnets when they will chase off intruders, be they other swans, geese or humans who get too close.
Yes, but only in exceptional cases. If a wing in full span and velocity were to hit a weak-boned person (such as a child or an elderly person) then it is theoretically possible. In reality it is almost unheard of and is never used as a form of attack as swans are a defensive bird. The only time they become aggressive is when they are protecting their nesting ground or cygnets when they will chase off intruders, be they other swans, geese or humans who get too close.
the Swan Sanctury said:
The only time they become aggressive is when they are protecting their nesting ground or cygnets when they will chase off intruders, be they other swans, geese or humans who get too close.
Typical swan sanctuary rose-tinted view of the evil buggers 
They also get pretty aggressive if you've got something they want to eat and won't hand it over. They're pretty, but they've a nasty temperament.
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