Feather pecking and cannibalism are serious welfare problems in turkey production, causing pain, injury, and mortality. Understanding the causes and evidence-based prevention strategies is essential for improved welfare.
Feather pecking and cannibalism in turkeys create a welfare problem with a painful dilemma at its centre: the primary preventive measure (beak trimming) causes pain to prevent pain. The underlying cause is environmental inadequacy - birds in barren, overcrowded conditions redirect foraging behaviour into injurious pecking. The solution should be environmental improvement rather than physical modification of the birds, but industry inertia and economic pressure maintain beak trimming as the default response. Turkeys that experience severe feather pecking develop wounds that attract further pecking due to the stimulus of blood and damaged tissue, creating a self-reinforcing spiral of injury. Earlier detection and intervention, through monitoring and environmental improvement, can prevent this cycle.