Outdoor access for farmed turkeys provides significant behavioral welfare benefits but presents challenges from disease exposure, weather management, and the physical limitations of commercially selected breeds.
Turkey outdoor access welfare is complicated by the breed selection issue that undermines many welfare improvements for commercial turkeys: the heavy commercial broad-breasted breeds that dominate production are poorly suited to the outdoor environment their welfare would benefit from. Addressing turkey outdoor access welfare therefore requires addressing breed genetics simultaneously with housing standards. Heritage and slower-growing breeds that can genuinely use outdoor access represent the appropriate combination of welfare-positive housing and welfare-positive genetics. This dual approach — breed reform and outdoor access — provides more welfare improvement than outdoor access alone for birds bred for indoor intensive production.