Over 10 million turkeys are slaughtered in the UK for Christmas each year. Most are fast-growing commercial breeds that experience significant welfare problems related to their genetics and housing conditions.
Fast growth in commercial turkeys causes leg weakness, heart failure (aortic rupture) and skin lesions from lying on litter. Turkeys are social, curious birds that in better conditions demonstrate problem-solving and play behaviour. Crowded intensive conditions prevent expression of natural behaviours and cause chronic stress, beak damage and aggression.