How to Trim Turkey Flight Feathers

Turkeys can fly quite well when they're young. This means that they can get away to perch in tall trees, well out of reach. Fortunately, that's easy to fix without injuring the bird. Properly executed, trimming the tips from a bird's wing feathers will effectively ground the turkey until new feathers grow in to replace the clipped flights. Since turkeys are typically clipped strictly for the purpose of eliminating their flight abilities, aesthetics aren't important. It's only necessary to trim a single wing per bird.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy sharp scissors

Instructions

1. Sit on your knees with your lower legs tucked beneath you. Grab both of the turkey's legs at the knee in your left hand and quickly encircle its chest with your right hand and forearm. Hug the bird to your chest so it is facing out. Tuck both of its legs between your own to secure it into position on your lap.

2. Press your left forearm gently but firmly across the turkey's back. Move your right arm to extend the bird's right wing with your right hand and hold it open. Grasp the open wing where it bends with your left hand, while still holding the bird in position with that forearm. All the large flight feathers of that wing will now be fanned open.

3. Look at the wing carefully to identify the flight feathers. They're the long, stiff ones growing from the bottom. Across the top of the wing is a group of smaller, softer feathers that are grouped closely together. This is the covert and it will serve as an outline guide for you to cut the flight feather tips below it.

4. Examine the flight feathers one by one for the presence of blood in the quill at the center. This is an active, growing blood vessel in an immature feather. It will bleed dangerously if damaged. Do not trim blood feathers.

5. Take sturdy, sharp scissors in your right hand. Begin with the flights closest to you. Cut them slowly one by one to avoid tearing feathers or leaving ragged edges. Follow the outline of the covert, about an inch below it until all the flights have been trimmed. Release the bird.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear sturdy long jeans and boots to avoid turkey talon scratches on your lower body.

References

• Nature's Harmony Farm: Clipping Flight Feathers -- Video
• Animal Sheltering: How to Trim Bird Wing Feathers
• Across the Creek Farm: Clipping Turkey Wing Feathers