collecting fresh turkey feathers

[woodworker]

I will be butchering turkeys in early November and wondered if prior to scalding the birds I could clip the wing feathers off close to the beginning, leaving just enough to pull them out of the wind later.  I plan to bag separately right and left wing, also looking for some one to fletch some arrows with them, thanks, Joe

[saltwatertom]

Just take the wing off at the joint (second joint) after you kill them and before you scald them. You don't really eat that part anyway because there is no meat on it. I am raising turkeys also and that is what I do. That way you have the wing and feathers intact.

    The last turkey I had I just plucked it without scalding, it was a young one, (was real easy to get ALL the feathers off) worth trying so you can forgo the scalding and hot water routine.

JMHO and $.02 worth.

[woodworker]

Thanks Tom,
     I have done plenty of turkeys in the past but I always have said "forget it" by the time I think about collecting the wing feathers, this time I want to save them.  I have several different kinds, bronze, white palm and a mix ( we have a beautiful tom that we keep to breed three hens, two bronze and a white) the white tom went in the freezer early, kept going after my wife and kids.  I just finished butchering 50 chickens, as many time as I do this the smell of those wet feathers gets to me.  Loads of luck up there in AK, Joe