Housing
Turkeys reared in standard systems are often not provided with enough space per bird or facilities to carry out all normal behaviours properly. Other welfare problems that can be associated with insufficient space include foot pad lesions (caused by the birds standing or sitting on litter which may have high levels of ammonia from a build up of faeces) and heat stress. More space per bird and environmental enrichment, to allow them to move around, exercise and perform their normal behaviours, can help to avoid these problems.

Selective breeding for fast growth rates
Turkey breeding companies have focussed mainly on breeding the largest and fastest growing birds to satisfy perceived consumer demand. As a result there is evidence of severe leg problems in both meat and breeding turkeys. This can particularly be the case for large male turkeys in standard production, which can suffer from lameness, leg deformities and/or hip problems.

Beak trimming and lighting
Where there is a risk of feather pecking, which can cause injuries and sometimes lead to cannibalism, turkeys may be beak trimmed. This procedure reduces the risk of damage caused to other turkeys, but can be painful. The lighting may also be kept at very low levels to further reduce the risk of the problem, which can lead to blindness as well as preventing the birds from performing many of their normal behaviours.

Environmental enrichment
Turkeys can be kept in barren sheds with little or no opportunity to express natural behaviours such as perching, ground pecking, and foraging.

Handling and transport
Turkeys can experience considerable suffering if not handled carefully, such as when they are caught at the end of rearing and put into transport crates, and during transport, when bone fractures, bone breaks, dislocated hips and bruising can occur.

Careful management and providing the turkeys with the things they need to carry out their natural behaviours can help to avoid all of the above welfare problems.