Turkeys benefit significantly from environmental enrichment but commercial systems rarely provide adequate stimulation.
Commercial turkey welfare is severely limited by the barren environments in which they are kept. Turkeys are naturally active, explorative birds that range and forage extensively in natural conditions. Confinement in large sheds with thousands of birds and no environmental complexity drives redirected behaviours including feather pecking. Evidence shows that even simple enrichment such as hanging CD discs, straw bales, and perches significantly reduces pecking and aggression. Turkey welfare improvement through enrichment is well-evidenced and low-cost.