To clip wings or not to clip?

[mprivett]

I am curious- do you have to clip wings for turkeys? We have 4 Bourbon Red turkey poults about 4 weeks old and are new to raising turkeys. They are now all outside in their pen with a light at nighttime for heat. My husband says you have to clip their wings or they will fly off and fly up in trees and not come down, but wouldn't this be a good thing for getting away from predators?

Also wouldn't they come down for food and water and hang out in their pen, except for flying up in trees every now and then? Maybe it could cause more problems though I just wanted to get some advice! If we need to clip, at what age do you clip their wings?

 

[markb816]

I have raised many of turkeys and different types.
Standard Bronze and Eastern have always been the most 'flighty'.
It depends on how high up in a tree the turkey is, to determine how safe he is from predators.
that is why wild turkeys roost very high and not on low level branches. Not because the predator possibly can't climb, but because the predator's won't keep climbing.up. The higher the predator climbs, it knows that it's further from the ground in a fall. Not worth it for the predator.

My BR's have personally not always been the motivated flyers. They fly when they have to. They are still domesticated. So they would have to be locked up in a safe barn, if they didn't roost high enough.
From my past experience turkeys would rather sleep outside than inside. Now they don't want to sleep on the ground but they aren't too finicky about how high they do roost. And this clearly makes them more likely to be attacked by predators when not roosting very high.
But just like any other foul, a turkey is a creature of habit. They are best when they have a regimented routine. Most like people they don't enjoy or like change. So if you get them in a good routine and consistently have them roost where you want them, sooner or later they will get in that pattern.

Now unless you're in a different part of the land where there's water and turkey food in the tree, I assure you the turkey will fly down from the tree and come to where he know there's food and water.

Sometimes if I would let my turkeys roost in trees, they would hook up with wild turkeys and run off with them. And once that happens, its a challenge getting them back.

I don't believe in clipping wings on turkeys. I don't feel its worth it. I've seen turkeys with one clipped wings, or both wings clipped that can still fly really well.
Also, if you're birds do range, and their is the potential for predator attacks during daylight hours, your turkey has a better chance of escaping and avoiding injury, if he can escape fast with a flight or good balance from his wings.
Also if you clip their wings, they don't forget it, They may become scared of you.

 

[mprivett]

This is really interesting. Thanks so much for the reply. I'm in NC, and we have them in a pen we made for them outside behind our shed that is partially covered/enclosed. We made a little roosting ladder out of bamboo poles and they just started to roost on it at night (as opposing to laying in a pile with each other). I'd like to eventually let them free range once they understand not to go far away from the yard, but probably only when we are at home with them. We do have wild turkeys in our area so that could be an issue I guess.

I really hate to clip their wings if we don't have to, so I'll try to convince my husband of the pros and cons. Right now they are pretty attached to us and LOVE it when we visit their pen. They cry and cry after we leave for us to come back. Is there a way to get them to come into their pen/coop at night instead of flying up into trees?

 

[markb816]

Provide fresh treats in the area/coop/pen where you want them to be at night. Do this about an hour before they usually go to roost. Turkeys eat the most early in the morning, after coming down from roosting. Then afterwards they start their cleaning/featherkeeping/grooming. They eat somewhat throughout the rest of the day and then it picks back up before turning in for the evening. You can use that evening feed to your advantage.
Then, before its gets dusk, corral them in, don't be too aggressive about it. Just walk behind them going left or right, so they will go the opposite way in front of you. Be leisurley and comfortable about it. If you have a special word or whistle/noise for them use it. Turkeys process things with their eyes but also their hearing. If you're consistent they will see this as a routine. Almost a ritual for them. Do this every evening for 8 weeks, and then you can get to where you just go out there before dark and they should be all in their right places. If some are not, corral them in, so they know to get with the routine. Some will catch on faster than others. You should be able, after doing this and by, hopefully end of summer, be able to go out right before dusk and they all are good obiedient birds, comfortable where they are, because they know the routine. It's good to do this training now. Because the days get longer and you have more time to make sure they are where they need to be. By fall the sun goes down alot quicker and dusk happens faster. And more of a challenge to accomplish.

Another note: Make the area they will be at night comfortable and and safe. Check to make sure nothing is digging around, look for scratch marks or places where predators may be attempting to breech. This is key, because once a predator senses a meal or meals, he will come back until he knows he can't get what he wants. Or if he gets his target he will come back again and again.
You mentioned a partially opened area for them at night. If at all possible, just to be on the safe side, you make want to take some precautionary steps of making that area more enclosed and less acceptable to coyotes, foxes, bobcats, etc. Once turkeys are pretty big, tree climbing predators like raccoons and possums are not that big of an issue. But not far off the ground bigger less climbing animals might try them.

And if you do get them in this good routine of roosting where you want them, and they do well with it for a period of time, and then you see turkey(s) going rogue(not wanting to go to designated roost area) at dusk, then check the area, make sure it's safe. Sometimes a turkey will let you know its not feeling safe at night. And by not going in, this is there way of telling you.

One more thing: If a turkey gets used to roosting low(closer to the ground), then he will not want to roost much higher. He will be used to roosting low and usually stick with that (because they think they are safe, and also because low roosting is now their routine). Turkeys are really good flyers, but usually they only fly when they have to.