"A swan can break a man's arm, you know."
How many times have you heard people give you this interesting 'fact'? Lots I expect. Yet how many b3tans have or know anyone who has had their arm broken by a swan? I've never heard of it happening. So either society is one big fat liar or I've been sheltered from reports of canal-Nazi attacks my whole life.
(henry's cat is yellow on, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:19, 11 replies)

There was a 2 page spread
in my local free newspaper about a woman whose arm had been broken by a swan. Turned out it ran at her when she was feeding the ducks and she ran off, fell over and broke her giant bingo wing. And then called for a swan cull.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:21, closed)

Simple observation
should tell you that this is rubbish. There are two versions of this myth; first, that they can break a man's arm with a beat of their wing. This is nonsense - lift is generated by air catching in their feathers, not from brute strength. Second, is that they can break a man's arm with a bite - this is even more ridiculous. The muscles in a swans mouth are the same size as the muscles in your fingers.

I've been bitten by a swan, and it was strangely pleasant.

They can, however, cause ruptured ear drums with a wingbeat if handled incorrectly. This used to happen to RSPCA people now and then. That is why the technique for picking up a swan (for whatever reason) is to hold it with it's back to you, your arms around it's wings and locked around it's chest. Remember this information; you may thank me for it one day.
(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:23, closed)

I know someone
My friend Tracy had her arm broken by a swan when she was a child. She got too close, it flapped it's wing and CRACK. So it is possible.
(Big Smurf Brush me daddy-O, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:24, closed)

Silly Big Smurf,
child is not man!
(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:26, closed)

^^^Haribo
Do the RSPCA guys have to perfect the 'reach around' technique?
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:28, closed)

...
swan with a flick knife is pretty fecking dangerous though.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:37, closed)

A swan broke my aunties chimney once
Admittedly this was by flying into it full tilt. They were watching TV when they heard a crash and bits of chimney tumbling off the roof. When they went to investigate, they found the swan dead outside.

My aunty says it's quite difficult to stuff a dead swan in a wheelie bin.
(drunkenfud, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:38, closed)

This is bollocks
A swan can't break a mans arm.

Unless he's Mr. Glass from "Unbreakable".
( Cawl, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:40, closed)

The way I see it
is that in order for something as incredibly tough as a human arm to break it needs to be hit very hard indeed. This isn't a problem for your average bastard-huge swan. The problem comes when considering how the arm pivots. When Karate Kid broke the sheets of ice they were supported at both ends, facilitating a nice easy break. An arm is only supported at one end and so will just flop down when hit.
(henry's cat is yellow on, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 10:43, closed)

Dunno about arms
But a swan did delay the launch of the Mercedes C Class in Manchester by landing on the Mancunian Way, getting a bit of a strop on and attacking a Transit Van.

By the time I got past, the swan was winning.
(osok Rebel without a clue, Fri 25 Apr 2008, 11:06, closed)

A swan can break a man's arm, you know
Probably not true really.

However, a badger CAN break a man's car... As my mate's brother found out. Twice. And 20 years apart.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Fri 25 Apr 2008, 15:17, closed)