VEGANS: I'm hearing conflicting stories about turkeys? Are they nice or mean?

Question

I asked this in the Birds forum, but didn't get much response. So, I thought that I'd ask it here, since it related to Farm Sanctuary's info.

The Farm Sanctuary paints a picture of turkeys as being loving, gentle pets that love attention, pets, hugs, cuddles, tickles, sleeping on your lap, etc. Other people have described pet turkeys as being mean, aggressive, biting, clawing animals that hate close contact and/or affection. Why does this discrepancy exist? When I can afford it, I'd love to have a pet turkey IF the Farm Sanctuary people are telling the truth.

I'd imagine that the difference is that turkeys raised for food are treated horribly, and the birds never bond with the humans. Human contact is rare, and painful. I've actually seen horrible videos with DOGS and CATS being caged and prepared for slaughter in China. These dogs and cats were "mean", and bit and growled at the humans. What else could we expect. Compare them to our own dog and cat pets. Big difference.

Answer 1

You have to realize, so grouping them ALL into one category is like saying so are black/white/etc people nice or mean?

Okay to better answer your question, you provide a source for them being loving, etc but no source for them being mean except you say *people*. Who are these people? They may have had a bad experience with a turkey, or the turkey could have been in a bad mood and maybe they met the turkey in the morning and the turkey was not a morning turkey or the turkey could have woken up on the wrong side of the hay or the turkey is not a people turkey or the turkey saw people eating its relatives and freaked out. There are a lot of reasons for certain animals and humans to act a certain way. But for the most part there are people who study turkeys and what Farm Sanctuary states seems to be correct.

I have no idea why you posted this in the V&V section rather than animals. I hope it is not to say well if they are mean it is okay to eat them, because that would not work. Or if you assume vegans hang out with turkeys a lot?

But as you also pointed out a lot have had horrible exeprience with humans.

Answer 2

Turkeys are not dogs or cats, if they consider you a threat they will defend them selfs, this doesn't make them "nice or mean," If I was going to get a turkey for a pet, I'd get a couple hen turkeys. They are social animals, so it would be mean to keep just one.

BTW: I'd ask this question in the zoology forum too, since the people in there have more real life experience dealing with turkeys that are not destined to end up on the dinner table.

Answer 3

Turkeys can be adorable,but like us,they have bad days too.

They are also protective of their group,so can be vicious if you try to get with his girls.lol.

But we would all protect our own wouldn't we?.

Turkeys naturally scratch at the earth,its what they do,but they don't know they are hurting you when they scratch you,like a kitten has to learn to retract claws when playing with you.

Caged dogs and cats would be mean,after all wouldn't you,being caged,scared,badly treated etc.

Funny thing is animals are very forgiving,and can still interact with people after the most evil cruelty.

No difference really as you say there is,as loved animals are rarely mean,and it has been said that animals know they are going to be killed,they can smell it around them.

That would make me mean and scared and wanting to get free.

Answer 4

I know a turkey breeder ( a low density turkey breeder, not one of those awful factory farms )

she produces about 50 turkeys a year.

They just behave like large chickens really, no more, or less, agressive to a welsomer chicken for example. I wouldn't think twice about going in the saem field as them - no problem

Leave them alone, and they will leave you alone, take thier eggs when they are broody and they will grunt at you and raise thier feathers. Nothing more.

As for turkeys in factory farms I don't think you can use thier behaviour as typical. Thier conditions are terrible and I wouldn't want to judge them by thier behaviour in those situations. Personally, i don't blame them for being agressive in those situations.

Answer 5

Wild turkeys are meaner than h**l. I was once in a jungle camp on the Amazon in Peru, and a local turkey took a dislike to me. It chased me around, and every time I turned my back it started to attack. Only if I faced it would it stay at a safe distance.

Domestic turkeys are milder, I think, but I've never really interacted with any. I doubt they would make very satisfactory pets.

But I do have a great recipe for turkey stuffing!

Answer 6

Hi :)

I have had experiences with turkeys with them being very gentle and sweet and some that are mean.

For the most part, a turkey will be very gentle natured with people as long as they have been treated kindly.  I have seen Toms though that were nice but then when they became mature enough to breed, they kinda changed to where they would flog people.  Also Toms will try to breed anything that moves if there is not a hen around.

If you were to get one, I would either get a pair, or just get a hen.  They really can be nice and enjoyable.  They have such cute little personalities.

Answer 7

Turkeys, cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, horses, pigeons, doves, ducks, dogs, cats and rats.  They animals!  They are MEAT!  They have a place in the food chain.  You Vegans try to deny it but The species you were born into is on top of that food chain.  Humans have the teeth of a carnivore.  If YOU were meant to be strictly vegitarian you would have 4 stomachs like a cow.  U don't.  Stop fighting your nature!  Your protien is supposed to come from consumption of MEAT.  Ok, so eat rice or beans with it but the diet nature intended you to eat is at least 40% MEAT!  90% of all domesticated animals wouldn't be alive at all if they weren't raised for food.  So get over it!  Bleed all over somebody else for the dead turkeys and chickens and cows and pigs.  If You gotta be foolish enuf to deprive yerself of 40% of yer dietary needs.......don't cry on me.  Just go to your early grave and don't bother those sensible enuf to eat a balanced diet.

Answer 8

i can tell you without doubt that a kitten is meaner than a turkey

Answer 9

Ok here is the skinny on the turkey question.First of all do you have the area to have a turkey cage free.Do you desire to walk around turkey scat?Are you whilling and able to take care of the turkey as fit for a FARM animal.I have horses sheep turkeys and chickens.Are they a pet well not like my dog or even a cat.Not even like a horse.First remember they have a brain the size of a pea.So how smart are they? Well i can tell you they are smart enough to eat there own droppings.Oh and they will learn the sound of the feed scoup and come running also they will learn when i call to feed the other animals they will come running.Out of all of my Animals in the land bird fam i have one hen (chicken) that tends to like people alot.Rare really but it does none the less if it so feels to peck you on the face when it flys up on your shoulder your not going to be scoulding it cuz it wont matter.Another thing to remember if its a young chick its on the food chain and free game for foxes owls and other large birds of prey.Only thing you will gain with a turkey as a pet is if you raise it and raise it close to you it wont fear humans and or cars as far as that goes.I would pick a better pet!!!

Answer 10

If they're anything like chickens, ducks and other fowl, then they're probably either nice cuddly and accepts you or viciously hates you and you can't do anything to make it like you. They can also turn suddenly, especially the males where they like you one day and the next day when their hormones kick in they suddenly start attacking you with fury and anger.