7 Interesting Facts About Turkeys
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites, or women created for men."
-Alice Walker
1. Fly, Turkeys, Fly
Turkeys, though they seem like pudgy birds, can fly. It doesn't seem possible for their large bodies to lift into the air, but indeed they do. However, like with many larger flying birds, they expend energy over a short period (they can only fly approximately 100 yards at a time) and spend most of their time conserving as much energy as possible. But while flying, they can reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour!
2. Tree Huggers
Wild turkeys sleep in trees. (This is where their ability to fly comes in handy.) Though they are the same species as domesticated turkeys used in agriculture, those turkeys on farms obviously aren't allowed the space to perform this natural function. We can't have the food fly away, can we?
3. Mood Rings
The skin of their head and neck changes color based on mood. The skin turns blue when feeling happy or content and red when angry or stressed. I'm not sure how any turkey farmer or anyone that has spent some time with these birds could argue that they don't feel emotions when their skin obviously shows that they do.
4. Snoody Birds
The dangly thing over their beak is called a snood, and its length, for males, determines group hierarchy. Females also have a snood, but as turkeys are patriarchal birds, it serves no purpose.
5. Loud Mouths
Turkeys have more than 30 different vocalizations, but only males actually gobble. If you've ever been to a farm sanctuary, you know that the gobble can be incredibly loud. Additionally, turkeys can recognize each other by their voices, just like we do with other humans!
6. Free Hugs!
Turkeys are sensitive, loving creatures. You'll often hear sanctuary stories of rescue turkeys approaching humans for hugs (and maybe some food too) and softly purring as they're pet. Ever heard of Albert the Turkey? He's a rescue who proves that these birds are quite fond of hugs, cuddles, and feather-stroking. You can watch his Dodo adoption video here.
7. 50 Million Lives Deaths
About 50 million turkeys are killed just for Thanksgiving; in 2018, approximately 52 million were slaughtered. Throughout the year, they are murdered and their bodies are frozen in storage until November. These turkeys are only a few months old at death, still babies, their bodies engineered to grow significantly faster than normal. This makes it difficult for them to perform any natural functions, even things as simple as walking.
"Point of View"
Thanksgiving dinner’s sad and thankless
Christmas dinner’s dark and blue
When you stop and try to see it
From the turkey’s point of view.Sunday dinner isn’t sunny
Easter feasts are just bad luck
When you see it from the viewpoint
Of a chicken or a duck.Oh how I once loved tuna salad
Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too
Till I stopped and looked at dinner
From the dinner’s point of view.–Shel Silverstein
Choose Kindness
This holiday season, instead of giving thanks over a turkey's corpse, choose vegan. Check out these vegan roasts instead:
Or check out these online stores for their Thanksgiving offerings:
be conscious, be kind, be vegan