Removing turkey primaries from the wing

[Josh]

How do you remove the primary wing feathers from the wing on turkeys?  I was given some wings recently and haven't removed the feathers yet.  I kinda tugged on them a little, but haven't seriously started trying to pluck them yet.  Just kinda stuck them in my freezer for now.  Is there a special trick to it or just tug, tug tug? 

[Pat B]

Side cutters, linemans pliers, tin snips or I guess a bandsaw would work.

[Josh]

you can't just yank on em?  LOL

[madcrow]

You could always split the skin around the quill with a razor and try to pull them.  The last time I tried yanking them out, I messed up three feathers and still ended up cutting them off.

[markinengland]

Feathers come out a lot easier if the wing is warm. This is certainly the case with fresh killed birds. If the bird has hung for a while dunking in near boiling water makes plucking a lot easier. This method is used in turkey farms here and the feathers are not harmed. Might be worth trying.
Mark in England

[cracker]

Thaw the wings and dunk the flesh part in boiling water for four or five minutes the feathers should loosen in that amount of time it will still take a hefty tug and a twist put they will come out fairly easily.Ron

[madcrow]

Well, learn something new every day.  I never thought of boiling them.  Turkey soup.

[Pat B]

Cutting them off is the quickest and easiest unless you want to save the quill.

[FlintWalker]

I saw 'em off right at the skin with my bandsaw. It's quick but messy.

[sailordad]

i use a side cutter pliers,just snip them at the skin nd you dont mess any of them up

[mullet]

 I do like Shannon, Bandsaw.

[JackCrafty]

Interesting thread.

Never tried cutting turkey wings...but I've done quite a few goose wings.  I cut the feathers off the wing with a knife.  And I try to save as much of the quill as possible.

[ricktrojanowski]

I cut them as close to the body with pruning shears.

[Pappy]

Snip um with side cutters also,quick and easy,you can do 10 or15 pairs in a short time.I have 12 sets to do today and hopefully a lot more in the weeks to come ,Turkey season opens in the morning and all my friends save them for me. They think I am crazy and I guess the could be close to
right.
   Pappy

[Josh]

Yeah, I have a few people who are saving the wings for me this year and of course they all think i am crazy too.     I am gonna go home and try the side cutters suggestion i think.  Thanks for all the suggestions, its amazing how helpful people are on here, this forum is great!  I just wish i knew enough to help others out.