How to Keep a Turkey From Flying Away
Two days ago at the farm, the early morning was so beautiful. Once again, the cool mist of evening was hanging like a veil until the heat of the sun caused it to vanish. I really like to explore and enjoy the farm before getting into my car and heading off to work in New York City. Later that day, Jason Hayes, from my friend, Michael Steinhardt's estate, came to visit. He brought with him Inbal and Itamar, the Steinhardt’s chefs who are visiting from Israel and Shaun, my gardener, was happy to give them a tour of the garden.
Jason also wanted to give Shaun a lesson on how to clip turkey wings. You may recall my blog from earlier this month when Jason delivered six heritage breed turkeys. Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area.  However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away. Clipping the wings, a painless procedure, prevents the birds from taking flight. Take a look and see how it’s done.
1 Another early misty morning at the farm.
2 The days have been very hot, but it cools down nicely at night.
3 I never tire of this view.
4 Inbal was intrigued with a hanging succulent in the greenhouse.
5 This was the very first time that Inbal had seen rhubarb growing in a garden. She was amazed at the size of the plant's leaves, which, by the way, are poisonous!
6 She especially interested in these tiny spoon tomatoes.
7 They are so very sweet.
8 And entirely irresistible!
9 Itamar was surprised that purslane is considered to be a weed by many. In Israel, purslane is used in tzatziki, a classic yogurt sauce found in Mediterranean cuisine.
10 Purslane has a mild, sweet-sour flavor and a chewy texture and is delicious in salads.
11 In Israel, corn is a winter crop, as it is much too hot and arid there to grow in the summer months. This, by the way, is ornamental corn.
12 Down in the chicken coops, Inbar and Itamar admired my many unusual breeds of chickens.
13 Jason found this Bourbon Red turkey hiding in one of the coops - this heritage breed is one of the most beautiful of all turkey varieties.
14 Jason asked Shaun to assist him with the wing clipping.
15 This procedure doesn't hurt the turkey at all. It's like getting a hair cut.
16 With sharp scissors, you simply cut off about five-inches of feather, right through the shaft.
17 With the feather ends missing, the turkey cannot get lift to fly.
18 The next Bourbon Red - The wing tips and the back one half of the tail are white giving it a very striking appearance.
19 Itamar jumps in to help - The Bourbon Red has a rich, chestnut color that is edged in black on many of the feathers.
20 A nice clean cut
21 And now for a Royal Palm, a striking looking turkey, with a white base color and most feathers banded with a bright metallic black color.
22 Very curious as to what is going on
23 The tail feathers of the Royal Palm - The contrast of this black/white combination is truly radiant.
24 Shaun was trying to corner the turkeys.
25 And the Pomeranian geese were raising a ruckus!
26 Shaun grabbed a Black Spanish.
27 Black Spanish turkeys are solid black with a beautiful greenish luster and no barring. They originated in Europe and are quite hard to find.
28 Very beautiful feathers
Can you do the same with chickens?
Posted by: jordan | August 19th, 2010 at 12:07 am
I remember having to help clip the chciken's wings way back in the day, but had forgotten how to do it, or how much to cut off. Thanks for the lesson and for bringing back some memories of long ago.
As usual, your place is beautiful in the early morning fog.
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 19th, 2010 at 12:18 am
What beautiful varieties of Turkey. I'm glad that the guests enjoyed the farm.
I feel I should add that wing clipping should only be done by a professional who knows how to do it properly, which your friend clearly did. My grandfather's turkeys were clipped and he always boasted that, like the Ravens at the Tower of London they would never fly away and the turkey coup would stay standing. (Legend has it that if the ravens fly away, both the Tower and England will fall, so the Beefeaters clip the raven wings). Well he wasn't quite right! One day while he was tending them, one of the goats jumped into the turkey pen and spooked the turkeys. One of them tried to fly away and managed a very short flight, knocking my grandfather over to much delight from his wife and that story has been told many times in my family. So sometimes even a clipped bird can manage a tiny flight if they are scared and motivated to escape!Â
Posted by: Christian / @vfbr2001 | August 19th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Food writers always say that Americans are too distanced from their food - thinking it all comes wrapped in plastic packages. I can see why! It's hard for me to even look at the pictures of your turkeys getting a "haircut!"
Posted by: Karen | August 19th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Martha are those turkeys pets or Thanksgiving dinner? I hope they are pets
Posted by: Ann | August 19th, 2010 at 7:20 am
To the other Ann,
Food growers love their animals. Pets and food are two differnet entities. Just as in all life, relationships are complicated. Many of us may consider plants pets. I respect your opinion.
Posted by: ann | August 19th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Ann...I was thinking the same thing. But I think that I would prepare them for Thanksgiving. At least Martha will know how well they've been organically fed!
Posted by: Julie | August 19th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Best title ever for a blog post! I clicked on it right away. (Of course, I was thinking metaphorically, though I knew it would actually be a great lesson in keeping turkeys from flying away.)
Posted by: meaghan (chic cookies) | August 19th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks for another tour of your farm via Shaun and lucky Inbal. Your greenhouse plants are thriving as expected and Purslane in picture #9 looks like a nice ground cover. I’ll have to Google it and also the Mediterranean yogurt sauce. I love yogurt.
~
Watching your turkeys get clipped was the same way Marc Morrone clips the wings of his pet birds and he was sure to mention that it didn’t hurt them. I see it takes more than one person to handle a turkey though! It is nice that they will now be able to roam the fenced-in grassy area. I got a kick out of the geese and can almost imagine the ruckus they raised. I had some friends from Michigan who had geese on their farm that liked to chase people so I’m a bit leery of geese.
~
To Christian – thanks for sharing the funny story about your grandfather. I can almost hear your grandmother laughing! Thanks again Martha. Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 19th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | August 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Mmmmm tzatziki... mmmmm!!
Your staff as always is highly skilled, do you know how hard it is to get a good handle on a turkey? Of course the turkeys don't even look remotely stressed, which I thought was adorable.
Also I never ever get tired of farm photos, so please don't stop!
Posted by: R. | August 19th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I wanted to know if you can clip peacock wings.
Posted by: Carol E. Cromer | August 19th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
I appreciated seeing how the tomatoes were doing. I handled my tomatoes with the towers and string. They were so robust I thought I needed more spacing. I see your tomato spacing is similar to mine. Who would know when planting that they would grow so rambunctiously.
The turkeys probably think (?) how nice it would be to be wild and chase a grasshopper forever.
Posted by: Margie | August 19th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I would never tire of that view either Martha just beautiful !!! I want a tour of your farm (sigh)!!
I must say I'd forgotton about the leaves of rhubard being poisonous...my Grandparents used to plant it and would never let us pick it !!!
I saw the coupon book mentioning Sept 13 and the new Hallmark channel, any particular reason you went there ?...can't wait, I've missed your show, I don't do repeats !!!
Also I saw your daughter on Kathie Lee and Hoda's show nice segment !!!
All the best,
Kathy
ps I skipped the pics of the wing clipping...YIKES !!
Posted by: Kathy :) | August 19th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I just adore the photo's- thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Morgan | August 19th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
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The Trees Within
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See the wispy mist backdrop to the ancient trees,
Who is not in wonder of the sleepy leaves?
As the mist caresses the new growth branch,
Sense the serenity rejoicing at this Bedford ranch.
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Wood fences that share a beauty of their own.
Their knobby rails, whose history is not known,
In the distance behind a veil of vapor, the stables,
Aesop would have been proud to include in his fables.
.
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As always - dreaming and smiling.
Wood fences that share a beauty
Posted by: celia stock | August 19th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
The morning colors are beautiful. We've really had some nice days here, too, in Maryland. There are wild turkeys we see here occasionally in the fields. What I really admire is your tall fences!
Posted by: Candylei | August 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
We just finished clipping the wings of our chickens this week as well.
Thank you for sharing photographs of the same so we know we are doing it correctly. Thankfully, we are.
I enjoyed being in your offices recently for the Martha Blogger Party. As expected, everything was immaculate and everyone was expertly knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you for hosting us. It is a night I shall never forget.
Warmly,
Robyn
Posted by: Robyn | August 20th, 2010 at 2:06 am
I just can't stop looking at the second photo in the series–GORGEOUS!!! Made me long for a farm...so idyllic!
Posted by: Jeff D'Amelio | August 21st, 2010 at 1:09 am
Martha, you take such luscious photographs - it's no surprise you're so good behind the camera, with your inherent creativity! I adore photography, too, yet am not trained. I think if you love aesthetics and have an eye for design, photography comes naturally. Love the gorgeous composed glimpses you provide of your world.
Posted by: Tania McCartney | August 22nd, 2010 at 12:41 am
Oh, I've never blogged before, but I'm desperately looking for help in making a root beer float! So I turn to you Martha, please tell me why my ice cream freezes no matter what the brand is!!! I totally give up! Now I just go to Friendly's or Carvel and get one! But that's not what I really want to do...Please help me?? Thanks soooo much!
Posted by: Donna | August 23rd, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Hi Martha, How beautiful Bedford looks on an early misty morning! All photos of your farm are fantastic and I forever enjoy seeing them! This blog about clipping your turkey's feathers so they won't fly away, is very interesting and I love how you show us exactly how it's done! Thanks again for all you do for us! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 25th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Hi Martha,
Can not get enough of your farm! I see that your chicken/geese/turkey yards look like permanent structures. Do you ever move them?
I am researching to learn about the care of these types of animals and some places say you should move them around for hygiene and pest reasons. I would prefer not to have to move mine and destroy yard each year. Would love to know your cleaning and setup of your structures (yard runs and laying sheds). Could be a really great post with great pictures of your coops.
Love everything you do,
Meghan
Posted by: Meghan | July 10th, 2011 at 12:11 pm