Or maybe something scared them and they got separated so the one came back to familiar territory? I had a building collapse last January and it was the turkey building. While getting the turkeys out to put them in the other shed, one hen flew out through where the roof used to be and landed out on the greenhouse roof by the garden. I figured she wouldn't leave the flock so I left her there while I moved the other turkeys (and hoped that she would fly down to where I could reach her). I got done with the other turkeys, but when I looked she was gone. I looked for her for over a month, and finally accepted that she was gone for good. I figured either predators, heavy snow cover causing starvation, or the temps in the 30 below range got her. So I really was surprised in March when a neighbor called to ask if the white hen in her yard was mine. My White Holland hen made it through the worst of a North Dakota winter and I have no idea of where she was or how she survived. Don't give up hope yet...
As far as clipping wings goes, I have clipped wings on 5 month old Broad Breasted White turkeys. I just did one wing but they still could fly up to perch on a 6' fence. I am not convinced that it works for turkeys...
