Blog written by Victoria Smith, volunteer blog writer

We’re rapidly approaching the most festive time of year, where friends and family will gather in millions of households all across the world to celebrate together and, undoubtedly, feast!

Which is not good news for turkeys. Traditionally a key component of these festivities, their bodies form the centrepieces of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables from the USA to England, from Canada to New Zealand.

I’ve often heard people describe turkey ‘meat’ as ‘dry’, or ‘a bit tough’, or simply that they don’t like it that much. Nevertheless, those same people will dutifully buy and cook the ‘meat’ that they don’t particularly like – in the name of tradition – every year. 9 million turkeys were slaughtered in the UK in 2023, and 218 million in the USA. Arguably, this is a tradition that should be left behind. The mass slaughter of innocent creatures who experience nothing but suffering in their short lives is a very strange way to mark days that supposedly celebrate love, peace and gratitude. 

In their natural habitat, turkeys are intelligent, curious and playful birds. Much like free-living chickens, they live in family groups and have strict social hierarchies. They’re speedy runners and can even fly (at up to 55mph!) since, naturally, they roost in trees. 

However, life for turkeys in industrial farms, and even so-called ‘free-range’ farms, is a very different story. Far from being able to engage in their natural behaviours of dust bathing, scratching and foraging, they’re barely able to move, cramped into barren, windowless sheds 25,000 at a time. Much as with chickens who are reared for ‘meat’, unscrupulous breeding practices now see turkeys, who would weigh around 7.5kg naturally, reaching a horrific 25kg in just a few months – because more ‘meat’ equals more profit. Obviously, a body growing at this unnatural rate is unsustainable, and individuals can suffer from joint degeneration, lameness, and fractured legs from being unable to support their own weight. Such limitation to mobility even inhibits the ability to mate – something that the industry relies on. Farm workers will therefore restrain the males and stimulate their genitals to extract semen, which is then artificially inseminated into the hens, whilst they’re hung upside down. This process is highly distressing for both sexes, and frequently results in injury.

Stressed, bored and frustrated, birds kept in these conditions will peck at each other’s feathers and eyes, and even engage in cannibalism. Industry efforts to reduce these behaviours include beak trimming – a practice of blunting the sensitive beak tip when the turkey is a few days old, so that it’s less sharp and can inflict less damage. This procedure itself, however, can be very painful on sensitive nerve endings and cause lifelong discomfort and chronic pain, as well as hindering the ability to feed.

A turkey’s natural lifespan is around 10 years. Turkeys who are farmed are killed at 8-26 weeks. Mere babies. They’re roughly transported to slaughterhouses in crates, where they’re either gassed to death or live-shackled upside down and moved along a conveyor to have their throats cut. Many of the latter are still alive as they’re then dunked into scalding tanks and have their feathers plucked. Animal Justice Project’s undercover investigation at Pastures Poultry showed that even in ‘high welfare’ operations, this is the reality for countless innocent birds.

Nobody deserves this fate. If you add turkey to your plate this festive season, you’re contributing to the supply-and-demand nature of this industry. Perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and suffering. 

The good news is that there are so many compassionate alternatives! Plant-based foods that taste delicious and don’t cost another individual their life. Everyone’s a winner. If you still want a turkey-like food but don’t want death on your plate, there are numerous, incredibly realistic substitutes that are made exactly for people like you – so you can choose a kinder option without feeling like you’re compromising or missing out. And for those who aren’t so keen on mock-meats, there are amazing vegetable-based dishes both ready-made, or in easy-to-follow recipes all over the internet! Ask your vegan friend for their recommendation, and if you don’t know any vegans, ask one online….there’s really no question we love more! You can get fantastic resources from organisations like Veganuary & Challenge 22.

Instead of buying a turkey to eat this festive season, why not sponsor one who’s been rescued from the industry and is now living the life that all turkeys deserve, full of love and friendship. There are lots of beautiful individuals at the Little Hill Sanctuary, The Riley Farm Rescue or The Retreat Animal Rescue, amongst others. Check out their videos…perhaps they’ll make you feel differently about your Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.

Choose kindness this festive season.

As always,

For the animals.