Turkey production spikes around Thanksgiving and Christmas, creating welfare challenges at every stage from hatchery to slaughter. Understanding these challenges helps consumers make more welfare-informed choices.
Commercial turkey production concentrates welfare problems in the final weeks before peak holidays. Transport of heavy birds in cold weather, extended pre-slaughter holding, and slaughter facility pressure all increase welfare risk. Heritage breeds avoid many of the genetic welfare problems but are far more expensive and available only in limited quantities. Consumer awareness of turkey welfare is much lower than for chicken despite comparable welfare challenges.