Commercial turkeys have been selectively bred to grow so large so quickly that they suffer chronic leg problems, heart disease, and respiratory failure as routine consequences of their genetics.
The welfare crisis in commercial turkey production is embedded in genetics: birds are bred to a body plan that causes chronic pain and physiological failure. Leg pain that prevents normal walking means turkeys cannot access food and water normally, preen, or engage in social behaviors. The birds' cognitive capacity and behavioral needs are entirely mismatched with the barren industrial environments they inhabit. Consumer choices - heritage breeds, welfare-certified alternatives, or reduced consumption - are the primary levers available to address this systemic welfare failure.