They are super sweet, have wonderful personalities, and are great family birds. Last year, we raised broad breasted turkeys, and since we didnt really know the difference between heritage breeds and broad breasted, we just purchased the first turkeys we came across. I recently wrote an article about why we chose to raise heritage turkeys this year instead.
Heritage turkeys are smaller than broad breasted turkeys, and they are not hybridized for massive meat production like the broad-breasted varieties are. Instead, they retain many of the natural wild turkey characteristics…and this means they can fly! Werent Mr. V. and I surprised to find them roosting in the branch (well over my head) of a juniper tree in the poultry run one evening! Yep! All five of them were sitting there together on their branch. I didnt have my phone with me, or I would have taken a picture.
As they have gotten larger, they actually began to fly longer distances and higher too! We knew we had to do something or we were going to lose our turkeys over the fence to a predator like a coyote or bobcat, both of which are prevalent in this area. If not a coyote, then most surely to a neighborhood dog!
I had to do some research, although my husband was very confident about how to clip a birds wings. “Its EASY,” he said! I, however, need to ask a lot more questions before doing something like cutting into one of our animals. So, I did. And we decided to go forth and clip.
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Our heritage turkeys began to fly! We had to take matters into our own hands and clip their wings in order to keep them safe from flying over the fence…into the mouths of coyotes, neighborhood dogs, feral cats, and even bobcats! Heres how to clip a turkeys wings.
It turns out that a birds wing has three (main) different kinds of feathers. The primary feathers are the longest feathers, and they can turn and twist independently to effect changes in direction. They are also responsible for the thrust needed to move the bird through the air. These are the feathers with the thickest shafts too.
There are also primary covert feathers. These are not as long as the primary feathers, but extend a bit past the smallest secondary feathers. See where Mr. V.s thumb is in the picture below? (Sorry for the dirty fingernail—hes been busy working outside.) Those are primary covert feathers.
The secondary feathers are the smaller ones above and to the left of his thumb. These are responsible for helping provide lift to the bird as the primary feathers provide the thrust.
First off, I want to mention that evidently theres quite a bit of controversy about the whole practice of wing clipping. I didnt realize this until I started reading about it. However, when looking at our situation, including where we live, how close our neighbors are to us, the fact that we knew wed never find our turkeys if they flew over our two fences, AND we live in an area filled with predators, we decided to get the clipping done. Here is an article about clipping chickens wings by my friend, Lisa of Murano Chicken Farms, who is a chicken expert—and her directions are very good. I should have just asked her first!
OK. There is no other way to say this: Making a mistake and hurting your bird STINKS. I actually cried. A lot. And I felt bad long afterward. I STILL feel bad.
It turns out that there is such a thing as “blood feathers.” These are primary feathers that have a darker shaft, so you can usually tell them apart. If you cut too far up the shaft on these feathers, they will bleed. White Holland turkeys are all white. Their shafts are not darker, so you just have to judge by the distance from the secondary feathers.
Out of the five turkeys wings we clipped, we had one (this White Holland, below), who didnt have different colored shafts. Two of his blood feathers were cut a bit too high. Luckily, we didnt cut way too high, and although he did bleed just a little, it wasnt much, and it stopped right away. But still.
I dabbed some Tea Tree essential oil on the wound a couple times a day for a two days, and he was fine. Actually, once I got the Tea Tree on him right away, he seemed fine and not stressed. We kept a good eye on him, too. (You can read more about the absolute wonders of Tea Tree Oil here!)
This was my first time clipping a birds wings, and I have to say that I was a little traumatized when I accidentally cut the blood feathers. I cant tell you how many prayers I said asking for forgiveness. I have since researched this, and it turns out that sometimes you just cant tell exactly where to cut a primary feather because the breeds (as well as individual birds) are all a little different. In the case of this White Holland, I think his primary feather shafts (with the blood) were just a bit longer than the others.
Luckily, this little turkey still loves me. Hes not afraid at all. THANK GOODNESS! Now that this happened, I know more about the process, and Ill (hopefully) never make this mistake again!
Uh-Oh. This was our last of the five, and heres where the accident occurred. Unfortunately, we clipped a blood feather a little too high.
We only clipped one wing on each bird. They look a little lop-sided, but you really cant tell unless you are familiar with clipping wings, I think. When the Toms get older and start doing their mating dance, Im interested to see how wing clipping looks (if we still have to do it—i.e. if they are still flying) and if it affects them.
At least right now, everyones happy, and they cant fly into danger any more. I have read that after about 4 to 6 weeks, we will have to do this again, if they start flying. Frankly, Im hoping they dont start flying again! 🙂
Ill tell you what….homesteading and doing things youre not familiar with is certainly a learning experience and takes courage! And thats what life is all about, right?
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Clipping turkey wings is an important practice for keeping your turkeys safe and contained. As turkeys grow, their flight capabilities increase, making wing clipping necessary to prevent escapes and injuries. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner to clip your turkey’s wings properly.
Why Clip Turkey Wings?
Turkeys are natural foragers with a strong urge to roam. As turkeys mature, their wing muscles strengthen enabling them to fly short distances or over fences. This poses a major risk as turkeys that escape their enclosures can
- Become prey for predators like coyotes, bobcats, dogs, etc.
- Get lost and unable to find their way back.
- Damage gardens, landscaping, or possessions.
- Create a road hazard if they wander into traffic.
Clipping the primary flight feathers on one wing throws off the turkey’s balance, preventing it from taking flight and escaping their safe enclosure. Clipping just one wing retains some of their ability to flap up to safety or maneuver if needed
What You’ll Need
- Sharp, sterile scissors or shears
- An assistant to gently restrain the turkey
- Quick, confident technique
Avoid dull blades that crush feathers. Clean tools prevent infection. Have someone hold and calm the bird while you clip. Work swiftly and decisively to minimize stress.
Turkey Wing Anatomy
A turkey’s wing contains three types of feathers:
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Primary flight feathers – Longest feathers located at the tip responsible for thrust and maneuvering. These get clipped.
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Secondary feathers – Shorter feathers towards the body that provide lift. Leave these intact.
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Covert feathers – Smaller feathers covering the base of other feathers. Avoid cutting these.
Step-By-Step Clipping Instructions
Follow these steps for proper turkey wing clipping:
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Extend one wing – Have your helper gently yet firmly extend one wing so all feathers are visible.
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Identify feathers – Locate the primary flight feathers you’ll be clipping at the tip of the wing.
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Cut below coverts – Position scissors a half-inch below the covert feathers.
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Slice primaries – In one smooth motion, cut across the wing, slicing through 4-5 primary feathers.
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Check for blood feathers – Examine ends for any feathers with blood, indicating a clipped blood feather. Apply pressure if bleeding occurs.
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Repeat on one wing only – Leave the other wing fully intact. One clipped wing disrupts flight.
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Monitor – Check the wing periodically. Re-clip new feather growth if bird regains flight.
Proper wing clipping takes mere seconds per wing. Limiting it to one wing retains some maneuverability. Monitor closely afterwards and repeat clipping if necessary. Avoid over-clipping, and leave healthy blood feathers intact.
What to Avoid
Steer clear of these common clipping mistakes:
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Cutting both wings – Hinders mobility and leaves turkey grounded.
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Cutting too many feathers – Impairs wing function. Only cut 4-5 primaries.
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Cutting blood feathers – Causes bleeding from immature feathers with blood supply.
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Cutting covert feathers – Damages cover feathers needed for protection and warmth.
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Using dull or dirty scissors – Crushes feather shaft, causing pain and imperfect cuts.
Caring For Clipped Wings
Once you’ve successfully clipped your turkey’s wings, be sure to:
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Check for bleeding and apply pressure if needed.
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Disinfect scissors between birds to prevent spread of infections.
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Monitor flight attempts and re-clip as needed. Feathers regrow in 4-6 weeks.
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Ensure housing and enclosures are reinforced to keep birds safely contained.
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Allow access to roosts or perches so birds can exercise clipped wings.
Know When to Clip Wings
The best time to start clipping turkey wings is 6-8 weeks of age or once flight becomes a problem. Signs it’s time include:
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Frequent escape attempts and flights
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Roosting in trees or high perches
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Disappearing for extended periods
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Feathers growing back quickly after previous clips
Ideally, clipping should not be permanent. Allow full flight feather regrowth after each winter when flight risks are reduced.
Clipping Wings Safely
While a quick trim, wing clipping does involve cutting, so exercise good practices:
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Recruit an assistant to gently hold the bird
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Restrain properly to avoid struggles and injury
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Ensure good visibility and access to the wing
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Work swiftly and decisively to minimize stress
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rotated trimming duties to avoid over-handling one bird
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Sanitize tools and isolate any injured birds from flock
Clipping your turkeys’ wings is an easy, painless procedure that greatly reduces escape risks and predation threats. Follow the steps outlined here for proper feather identification, hygienic tool use, and careful trimming of only one wing’s flight feathers. Be attentive afterwards and repeat clippings as needed while birds are flight-prone. With some experience, you’ll master this essential turkey care skill in no time. Just remember – safety first for your fine feathered friends!
Step Identify the Secondary and Primary Feathers
We did this by spreading out the turkeys wing. Its easy to see the difference between the feathers this way. See the photos: The primary feathers are the longest ones, and the secondaries are the small feathers closer to the bird.
Step Use Good, Clean, Sharp Scissors
Trust me. You do NOT want to use dull or dirty scissors for this task. The shafts are similar to fingernails, at least in how they feel in the cutting, and to me, cutting nails with dull trimmers is HORRIBLE. I chose sanitized, super sharp and strong scissors for this task.
TRIM TURKEY WINGS
FAQ
How do you cut off turkey wings?
Should you cut or clip a turkey’s wings?
The goal of clipping, cutting or trimming a turkey’s wings is to prevent flight. Clipping the turkey’s wings would be better described as clipping the turkey’s flight feathers. The wings themselves are not cut at all, only the long flight feathers on one of the bird’s wings.
How do you clip a turkey wing?
While one person holds the turkey and also extends the wing, the other person can find the right feathers to clip and quickly get it done. You clip about a half inch below the secondary feathers, in a straight line. You also only have to clip the first few flight feathers.
Can you cut a turkey’s flight feathers?
Clipping the turkey’s wings would be better described as clipping the turkey’s flight feathers. The wings themselves are not cut at all, only the long flight feathers on one of the bird’s wings. It is like getting a haircut, when done properly, it doesn’t hurt the animals and the feathers will eventually grow back. What are flight feathers?
Why do Turkey wings have to be clipped?
Our goal is different, we want to prevent flight for our turkeys. Domestic turkeys do not typically fly far anyway and can jump high enough to protect themselves if they are in danger. Smaller birds only defense might be to fly if needed, so their wings are clipped differently to attain a different goal.