Farm Sanctuary upholds a different tradition: We celebrate the turkeys as living, vibrant, social, emotional, and sentient beings. Here are five reasons you should take turkeys off your plate this holiday season — and adopt one instead!
Five Reasons to Leave Turkeys Off Your Plate
Five Reasons to Leave Turkeys Off Your Plate
Adopt a turkey, don't eat one!
Your symbolic adoption helps Farm Sanctuary care for our rescued turkeys, protect others still in need, and raise awareness about the beautiful lives they lead when they’re allowed to live. Meet the flock.
For many people, celebrating the holidays and eating turkeys go hand in hand.
- They are confined and killed in vast numbers: 68 million turkeys are killed for the fall and winter holiday season every year in the U.S. Factory farms confine as many as 15,000 turkeys to a flock1. This does not support their natural behavioral instincts and desires of roaming and exploring their home ranges.
- The welfare of farmed turkeys is unregulated by the government: Turkeys, despite being one of the most farmed species, are not protected by The Humane Slaughter Act — which means they don’t have to be unconscious before slaughter.
- They undergo painful mutilations: As a result of living in overcrowded conditions, stressed turkeys will sometimes fight. Often within their first days of life, the industry cuts or burns off the tips of their sensitive, nerve-filled beaks and toes. These painful procedures are usually performed without anesthesia.2
- Factory turkey farms are often filled with ammonia: Caused by poor ventilation and overcrowding, the air at turkey farm facilities is commonly filled with ammonia, which causes a host of health issues for both turkeys and human workers, such as respiratory damage.3
- Animal agriculture is a leading cause of the climate crisis: While many factors play a role in human-induced climate change, animal agriculture is responsible for at least 14.5% of our greenhouse gas emissions. It also puts an incredible strain on natural resources such as land, water, and fossil fuels.
ONE MORE REASON:
Turkeys are bright, social, and sentient creatures! Turkeys form loving relationships, have strong and distinct personalities, and deserve a life free from harm.
Farm Sanctuary started the Adopt A Turkey Project 36 years ago. It is both a protest against factory farming—an industry that kills billions of animals a year—and a way to honor the lives of turkeys.
Help us honor the survivors: Sponsor Sandy, Galadriel, Elsa, Roberto, or George (or symbolically adopt the entire flock!) to support their lifelong care at Farm Sanctuary and our work to free others from abuse and exploitation.
Sources:
1 https://site.extension.uga.edu/lincoln/2020/12/turkey-production-in-the-u-s/
2 https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/beak_trimming_bgnd.pdf
3 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1047322X.1994.10388359
