Farmed Turkey Hatchery and Chick Welfare

Turkey hatchery welfare has received less attention than broiler hatcheries but raises similar concerns about handling, transport, and early life conditions.

Key Facts

Commercial turkey production relies on artificial incubation and hatchery production
Hatchery processes including candling, sexing, and transport are inherently stressful for poults
Male turkeys (toms) and females are typically reared separately due to size differences
Beak trimming is routinely applied to turkey poults in many production systems
Poults are transported to rearing facilities within hours of hatch, increasing stress
Early feeding and drinking management is critical for long-term health and welfare

Welfare Considerations

Turkey hatchery welfare has received insufficient research attention compared to broiler chickens. Improving hatchery conditions, reducing unnecessary handling, and ensuring rapid access to feed and water after hatch are priority welfare improvements for the turkey sector.

What You Can Do

Choose turkey products from farms with recognised welfare certification
Support research into turkey hatchery welfare and poult handling best practices
Advocate for inclusion of turkeys in welfare assurance scheme requirements
Reduce turkey consumption or choose higher-welfare products during seasonal demand peaks