Read Portia's Story (In Memoriam)
Wild turkeys live about 20 years and are able to run, fly and mate . They live in large family groups and are very social and smart. The meat industry has taken the DNA of the wild turkey and genetically engineered it to create a man made animal who is designed to get very big, very fast so they can be slaughtered at only 12 weeks old and have abnormally large breast meat . When we rescue them from slaughter, they continue to grow very large because of the genetic engineering, and by the time they are about 2, it becomes very difficult for them to walk or stand up.
At The Gentle Barn we believe that if an animal is still eating, drinking, and happy they are saying "YES" to life, so when Portia and Ellen could not walk anymore, we made a beautiful throne for them and treated them like queens, giving them treats and fresh water all day long. Eventually Portia and Ellen let us know when they were no longer comfortable and we helped them out of their bodies with dignity and grace in our arms, surrounded with love. We thanked them for the love and kindness they showed to each and every person they met. They taught us all that turkeys are smart and affectionate, love to cuddle and would fall asleep in our laps for hours. In their memory, we continue to tell their story so that maybe one day turkeys will not have to endure such suffering or cruelty.
Ellen and Portia were just two lives saved out of the 46 million turkeys who are killed for Thanksgiving every year.
Have you cuddled a turkey today?