Do turkeys fly?

Wild turkeys are able to fly for short distances, but domesticated turkeys cannot. A wild turkey will usually only fly for about 100 feet at the most and prefers to travel by running.

Wild turkeys use short, fast flights to escape from predators. They use their strong legs to push off from the ground, which gives them enough momentum to start flying. Domesticated turkeys have been bred to have large, soft breasts. This means that their wings cannot flap fast enough to lift their heavy bodies from the ground. The size of their breasts also affects their shoulder joints, making their wings weaker than those of a wild turkey.