HarvestingTurkey Feathers

[Hummer3T]

A friend of mine is raising turkey's, he butchers several times a year, I was looking to ask him for feathers to make flu flu's.  which feathers do you harvest.  I need Right wing, but which ones? can you take them all or do you only take from 3 to 7? please advise.

I have harvested several goose feathers in the past but only took a few of the prime ones, 2-3 off each right wing.

[NoCams]

Some use the secondaries too but most wings have 6-8 good primaries you can use. Are these going to be white feathers or barred ? Make sure you get the left wings too even if you do not use them you can possibly sell those too.

[Zbone]

The heavy, thick, 6 – 10 feathers from the tip of the wing to the first joint back, are considered “primaries”, and best for grinding, cutting, chopping, or burning to your preferred shape.

From that joint inwards are considered “secondaries”, which are best left for flu-flus. Been my experience they are to thin and flexible to bother with shaping, although they do make for cool crafts and ornaments.

Right wing comes from the right wing and left wing from the left…8^) Kidding aside, although you can jig up the left wing secondaries by  clamping them in a right helical clamp and they will work fine for flu-flus.

Also, if the secondary feather is big enough you can use both sides of the quill for flu-flus... Just my 2 cents.

[Hummer3T]

Thanks guys, I beleive he has white and bronze birds, haven't been out there lately. He might even have some domestic wilds.  I will get all that I can and likely give away what I can't use myself. I will post a give away right here on trad gang, you just have to pay the postage. will have to check on export/import laws but don't believe there would be a problem.

[Zbone]

Depending on the color phase, most domestic bronze will have barred wing feathers.

[Ragnarok Forge]

White and barred feathers for free.  Your going to have some sharp looking arrows. Sharing what you have is always a wonderful thing to do.

[Eric Krewson]

Store your feathers in a bag with a little borax in it, shake the bag every now and then to distribute the borax. Borax is the best to keep feather munching bugs at bay

[Charlie Lamb]

Left and right wing feathers.
     

[Pat B]

For fluflus you can use primaries, secondaries and tail feathers. No need to waste the secondaries and tail feathers.