Some are quiet and shy; others love to strut and be the center of attention! They are loyal and protective of their flocks—including their human counterparts like Rima of Happy Farm Animal Rescue!

Rima is a member of our Farm Animal Adoption Network: a nationwide collective of people and sanctuaries that provide forever homes for farm animals in need. Sadly, turkeys need a lot of help: Roughly 223 million are slaughtered for food each year, with 68 million just for the November and December holiday season.

The meat industry presents turkeys as anonymous, unfeeling objects. But we know them as sentient, feeling individuals. As friends.

Read what Rima has to say about sharing her life with these magnificent birds.

(Note: This is our second blog post in this series. You can read the previous Q&A with John of Peaceful Fields Sanctuary here.)

How many turkeys have you adopted? What are their names?

Two: Cherie and Litchi

When and why did you decide to adopt turkeys? Was the decision based on any interactions you’ve had with other rescued animals?

Farm Sanctuary had reached out to me several times about taking turkeys in, and suddenly some space opened up.

How does animal rescue tie in with your compassionate journey?

Being a vegan for many years and mostly rescuing cats and dogs, I always had the project to move my efforts to farm animals.

Where did you rescue your turkeys from?

Farm Sanctuary (Farm Sanctuary’s note: Cherie and Litchi came from a home that could no longer manage their care. Their former guardian loved the turkeys and didn’t want to see them face harm or slaughter—they asked Farm Sanctuary to help with their placement.)

What are their lives like now?

They roam around a two-acre pasture with 13 chickens and 10 ducks. They come to our house asking for treats, hang out on the porch, and sleep on the dog beds.

What is their daily routine?

They wake up quite late compared to the chickens, coming down from their roosting bar around 9:00-9:30 a.m. They eat, forage, and come to the house in the morning. Then they go lay their eggs hidden in bushes, sleep in the afternoon, and go to bed earlier than the other birds—around 5:30 p.m.

What are your interactions with them like?

They were very cuddly, mostly with my three-year-old daughter—laying down and enjoying cuddles until I started hand-feeding them fruits. Now [to them], our hands are only food dispensers LOL and they peck at my fingers if I try to pet them.

What are their interactions like with any other animals you have?

They bonded with one hen out of my 13. She sleeps with them and they are always together. The other hens are quite indifferent. [The turkeys] are fearless of our big dogs, always trying to eat from their bowl.

How would you describe the turkeys’ personalities?

Very sweet, smart, interesting, and interested.

How have your rescued turkeys informed your outlook on life?

I had no idea they had so much personality! Even more than my hens and ducks!

What is one thing you wish people knew about turkeys?

That they looove cuddles!