Turkeys are the second most farmed poultry globally and share the welfare problems of broiler chickens — fast growth, health problems, and intensive housing.
Turkey welfare mirrors broiler welfare in key respects: selective breeding for extreme growth has produced birds whose bodies are incompatible with normal function. Commercial turkeys cannot fly, have difficulty walking at full weight, and require artificial insemination because natural mating is impossible with the breast mass they carry. These are inherent welfare problems, not incidental husbandry failures. Slower-growing heritage breeds retain the physiology for normal turkey behavior and have dramatically better welfare outcomes. Consumer choices during the seasonal demand peaks for turkey have outsized impact on producer breeding and welfare decisions.