Rather, this is an unbiased look at what it means to slaughter a turkey on a small farm. The series of photographs below is presented in an attempt to connect us, the consumers of turkey on Thanksgiving, to the meat we are going to eat through an understanding of how that food got from the farm to our plates. The photos and information via
Related Question
How do you humanely kill a turkey?
One way is to hang the turkey upside down, which pacifies the bird and makes it easier to drain its blood; the other method is to straddle the bird, slit its throat (sometimes clean off), and then hold it down as it flaps around. This sounds more like a prelude to Halloween than Thanksgiving or Christmas. via
How do you butcher a turkey at home?
What is the process of killing a turkey?
At the slaughterhouse, turkeys are hung upside-down by their weak and crippled legs before their heads are dragged through an electrified “stunning tank,” which immobilizes them but does not kill them. Many of the terrified birds dodge the tank and, therefore, are completely conscious when their throats are slit. via
Does turkey poison its meat?
This is a myth. What I know is that a turkey can change the colour of its face from blue to white to pink or red depending on its mood when angry or calm . It is not toxic but very normal. A turkey has visible blood vessels below the skin and thats why its head,face,snood and wattles are red. via
Do turkeys feel pain when killed?
Furthermore, when one eats a turkey carcass, they are eating a genetically engineered animal and also consuming pain and misery. To keep turkeys from injuring one another their toes and beaks are cut off with hot blades with no anesthetic or analgesic, and when their throat is slit, many are still conscious. via
What is the best age to butcher a turkey?
What Is The Best Age To Butcher A Turkey?
Can you cook a turkey right after killing it?
Field dress the bird as soon as possible and for the rest you should be okay to get it ready for the freezer or the table when you get home. Fortunately, 90 minutes is generally not an issue. Once home, you can pluck the feathers and clean the turkey in cold water. via
Do you have to hang turkeys before eating?
Once the turkey has been slaughtered and is confirmed dead, pluck it straight away. Dry plucking by hand is so much easier whilst the bird is still warm. Hang the bird in a cool room for about ten days, which tenderises the meat and improves the flavour. via
How long does it take to pluck a turkey?
All the dipping and wet feathers, and the thought of a dead bird in my bathtub, felt somewhat unsavory. Paul, one of the farmers at Violet Hill, said it would take fifteen minutes to do a "dry pluck." So twenty-four hours post-slaughter, with wishful thinking and a good deal of ignorance, I opted for a dry pluck. via
How are Butterball turkeys killed?
Butterball turkeys are killed using a process that involves hanging live birds by their legs, shocking them in electrified water so that they become paralyzed (though they still feel pain), slitting their throats, and then running them through a tank of scalding-hot water for defeathering. via
How old are turkeys when killed?
When the turkeys are 14-18 weeks old they are ready for the slaughterhouse. via
What to do after killing a turkey?
Why is turkey bad for you?
Risks. Processed turkey products can be high in sodium and harmful to health. Many processed meats are smoked or made with sodium nitrites. These combine with amines that are naturally present in the meat and form N-nitroso compounds, which are known carcinogens. via
Do turkeys recognize humans?
They enjoy the company of other creatures, including humans. Turkeys can recognize each other by their voices, and more than 20 unique vocalizations have been identified in wild turkeys. They are incredibly curious and inquisitive animals who enjoy exploring. via
Can I get food poisoning from turkey?
You're at risk when you consume raw, undercooked, or unpasteurized items. Salmonella food poisoning is commonly caused by: undercooked chicken, turkey, or other poultry. via
Do turkeys mourn the dead?
Turkeys have a refined "language" of yelps and cackles. They mourn the death of a flock member and so acutely anticipate pain that domestic breeds have had epidemical heart attacks after watching their feathered mates take that fatal step towards Thanksgiving dinner. They clearly feel and appear to understand pain. via
Do turkeys feel sadness?
Research shows that farm animals have a wide range of feelings, including loyalty, sadness, joy, and fear'. Turkeys also experience similar emotional states to humans, including fear, anxiety, frustration, boredom, pleasure and enjoyment. via
Why turkeys should not be eaten?
There is no fibre in turkey meat, but there is cholesterol – a whopping 83 mg in a 112 g serving, which also contains 8.3 g of fat, including 2.4 g of saturated fat. Research has shown that meat-eaters are a whopping 50 per cent more likely to develop heart disease and nine times more likely to be obese than vegans. via