Did you know?

· Turkeys have good hearing but no external ears.

· Turkeys can see in colour and have a wide field of vision of about 270° (humans have just a 90° field of vision).

· Domesticated turkeys cannot fly, however wild turkeys can fly for short distances at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.

· The turkey was first roasted on 27 June 1570 at the wedding feast of King Charles XI of France.

· The average weight of a wild turkey is about 7.5kgs. However through selective breeding, a standard male domesticated turkey can weigh as much as 25 kilogrammes (approximately the weight of a small Labrador).

RSPCA Freedoom Food turkey standards RSPCA welfare standards include the following requirements: · Space allowance: The standards require that all turkeys reared under the scheme must have enough space to move around and express their natural behaviour - at 25kg/m2 this is typically over twice the amount of space per bird than that provided by the turkey industry’s own standards (NB for 14kg turkeys, QBT recommend a stocking density of 52.5kg/m2).

Why? More space allows them to stretch and spread their wings and helps to prevent problems associated with overcrowding such as lameness.

· Enriched environment: The standards require that all birds reared under the scheme must be given items that provide a more interesting environment and help encourage activity - including straw bales, perches and lengths of rope - the turkey industry’s own standards do not require this.

Why? Turkeys are very inquisitive animals, and such items can promote good health by encouraging natural behaviour and activity, which can help develop strong legs.

· Lighting: The standards specify that all Freedom Food turkeys must have good lighting during the day. This lighting is typically up to four times brighter than that provided by the turkey industry’s own standards. The lower level lighting, permitted under industry standards, encourages birds to grow faster, which can be detrimental to their health.

Why? Good lighting encourages normal active behaviour, helps turkeys to develop good eyesight, and allows them to find their food and water more easily.

· Freedom Food assessment: All Freedom Food approved turkey farms are subject to rigorous annual assessments by Freedom Food assessors to ensure that welfare standards are being met. They are also subject to monitoring visits by the RSPCA’s farm livestock officers. Traceability checks are carried out on Freedom Food labelled products, where an assessor will pick the product off the supermarket shelf and trace it back to the farm it came from.