Lexi Webster
Turkeys in Australia are primarily associated with factory farming, which raises significant animal welfare concerns. Between three and five million turkeys are killed annually in Australia for meat, with the average Australian consuming approximately 1kg of turkey per year. However, the term turkey in Australia can also refer to the Australian brush-turkey, a large, ground-dwelling bird with black or brown plumage, a red head or neck, and a yellow or purple neck pouch. These birds are not closely related to American turkeys but are the largest extant representatives of the Megapodiidae family. They are found in eastern Australia, particularly in wooded habitats, rainforests, and wet sclerophyll forests, but have also adapted to urban environments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian brush-turkey scientific name | Alectura lathami |
| Common names | Scrub turkey, bush turkey, gweela |
| Bird family | Megapodiidae |
| Bird order | Ground fowl (Galliformes) |
| Bird size | 60-75 cm (23.5-29.5 in) long, 85 cm (33 in) wingspan, 2.3 kg |
| Bird colour | Mainly black or black-brown plumage, with pale scalloping on underparts |
| Bird head colour | Red |
| Bird wattle colour | Yellow (mauve in Cape York Peninsula birds) |
| Bird habitat | Eastern Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to New South Wales and South Australia |
| Bird habitat type | Rainforest, wet woodland, drier scrub, urban areas |
| Bird behaviour | Omnivorous, eats insects, seeds, fruit; builds mounds for eggs instead of sitting on them for incubation |
| Bird intelligence | Not particularly smart |
| Bird welfare issues | Factory farming of turkeys in Australia raises significant welfare concerns |
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What You'll Learn
- Factory farming of turkeys in Australia raises significant welfare issues
- Brush turkeys are attracted to cities by food sources and reduced predators
- Brush turkeys are one of three species of megapode found in Australia
- Turkeys are killed at 10-12 weeks, when they are infants with distorted bodies
- Brush turkeys are one of the continent's three mound builders
Factory farming of turkeys in Australia raises significant welfare issues
The factory farming of turkeys in Australia has raised several concerns among animal welfare advocates. Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd is the largest producer of turkeys in Australia, with Bartter, which markets Steggles, coming in second. On average, between three and five million turkeys are slaughtered annually in Australia for meat, and this number is rising as turkey meat is increasingly viewed as a healthy dietary option. Australians consume approximately 1kg of turkey per person per year, with most of it being consumed during Christmas week. Turkeys are killed at an average age of 10-12 weeks, and males are sometimes kept up to 16 weeks.
There are several welfare issues associated with factory-farmed turkeys in Australia. Firstly, intensive production methods prevent turkeys from behaving naturally, causing stress and negatively impacting their health. Turkeys are naturally inquisitive birds capable of flying and running at high speeds, but in factory farms, they are unable to move freely and are often confined to overcrowded sheds. This lack of space can cause health issues such as breast blisters and respiratory problems from polluted air, as well as painful foot sores. Overcrowding also increases the risk of infectious diseases, such as avian flu, which can have devastating consequences for both animal welfare and the industry.
Additionally, low lighting is used in enclosed sheds to make the birds less active and aggressive, but insufficient darkness can result in eye damage. To reduce feather pecking, it is common for turkeys to have part of their sensitive beaks cut off without anaesthetic. The fast growth rates in factory farms can cause leg and bone disorders, especially in heavier male birds, and severe foot sores are more common in males. Breeding males are often unnaturally overweight, which leads to serious joint problems.
Furthermore, during the winter, turkeys may be slaughtered in smaller, seasonal slaughterhouses or on-farm, and this is sometimes done by untrained staff without pre-stunning, which is illegal in the EU. Turkeys may also be plucked within seconds of slaughter when they are still alive and conscious. These issues highlight the need for alternative methods of turkey rearing and slaughter that cause less suffering. Animal welfare organisations in Australia are working to address these issues through campaigning, political lobbying, education, and outreach, encouraging consumers to make more ethical choices.
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Brush turkeys are attracted to cities by food sources and reduced predators
Brush turkeys, despite their name, are not closely related to American turkeys. They are, however, the largest extant representative of the Megapodiidae family, with males weighing up to 2.5 lbs and females up to 1.2 lbs. They are native to Australia and can be found in eastern regions, from Far North Queensland to the Illawarra in New South Wales. They have also been introduced to Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Brush turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in recent years, recolonising urban areas like Brisbane and Sydney, from which they were once locally extinct due to hunting in the 1800s. One reason for their return to cities is the availability of food sources, such as bird feeders and pet food left outside. They are also attracted to gardens, particularly those with native species and mulched garden beds, which they use to build their large nesting mounds.
Brush turkeys are ground birds that build mounds for eggs rather than sitting on them for incubation. The male brush turkeys work tirelessly to collect materials and build mounds, which can be the size of a small car. The heat generated by the composting mound incubates the eggs, and the temperature is regulated by the male, who adds or removes material to maintain the optimal range of 33-35°C.
The reduction in feral predators, including foxes, has also made cities more attractive to brush turkeys. While they may be a nuisance to gardeners and farmers due to their destructive behaviour when building incubation mounds, brush turkeys are protected by law in Queensland and New South Wales, with fines of up to $483,900 or two years' imprisonment for harming them in Queensland.
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Brush turkeys are one of three species of megapode found in Australia
Brush turkeys are found in eastern Australia, from Far North Queensland to the South Coast of New South Wales, and have been introduced to Kangaroo Island, South Australia. They are the largest living members of the megapode family, growing up to two and a half feet long. They have black plumage, red necks, and yellow wattles. Brush turkeys are not strong fliers and prefer to use their strong legs to run through the underbrush, pecking at insects, seeds, and fruit.
Malleefowl, another species of megapode, are found in central and southern Australia. They are listed as nationally vulnerable and are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction, drought, and predation from introduced species such as the Red Fox. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, flowers, buds, and invertebrates.
Orange-footed scrubfowl are the smallest of the Australian megapodes and are found in the coastal regions of northern Australia, inhabiting rainforests, mangroves, and monsoon forests. They have grey-brown plumage, orange legs and feet, and an orange-yellow beak. Like brush turkeys, they are commonly seen in suburban gardens, where their large mounds and constant foraging can be a nuisance.
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Turkeys are killed at 10-12 weeks, when they are infants with distorted bodies
Turkeys are highly intelligent and social creatures, capable of forming strong bonds. They are also quite remarkable, with the ability to recall more than 30 fellow turkeys and remember human faces. However, their lives on factory farms are far from ideal, and their intelligence and social nature are often overlooked as they are seen merely as a commodity.
In the meat industry, turkeys are killed at 10-12 weeks, sometimes even as young as 12 weeks old. In contrast, pet turkeys can live up to 10 years. This shortened lifespan is due to the intensive farming methods used to increase meat production. Turkeys are bred, drugged, and genetically manipulated to grow as large as possible, as quickly as possible. This artificial manipulation often results in turkeys having distorted bodies, with legs that cannot support their weight, and they are unable to mate naturally.
The life of a turkey in a factory farm is one of suffering. They are kept in crowded, windowless sheds with thousands of other turkeys, where they spend the rest of their short lives. Their beaks and toes are cut off to prevent them from injuring each other, and they are unable to exhibit natural behaviours or live in their social groups. The conditions in which they are kept also make them highly susceptible to pathogens and diseases.
The treatment of turkeys in factory farms raises significant welfare concerns. In Australia, Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd, the country's largest turkey producer, kills between three and five million turkeys annually for meat. This number is rising as turkey meat is considered a healthy option. The short lifespan of these turkeys, coupled with the intensive farming methods, results in distorted bodies and a lifetime of suffering.
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Brush turkeys are one of the continent's three mound builders
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent in terms of total land area. Australia is home to three mound builders, one of which is the Australian brush turkey.
Brush turkeys are found all over eastern Australia, from Cape York in far-north Queensland, down south into New South Wales. They are found in rainforest and wet woodland habitats, but can also exploit drier, more open areas. They are not particularly strong fliers, and tend to only take to the air when absolutely necessary, preferring to use their strong legs to run through the underbrush, pecking at insects, seeds, and the occasional fruit.
Brush turkeys have been known to become a nuisance to gardeners and farmers due to their destructive behaviour when building incubation mounds. They strip vegetation, earth and mulch from gardens to build the mounds to incubate their eggs. However, in recent years, the birds have started to move back into cities in large numbers, attracted by food sources such as bird feeders and pet food, as well as a reduction in the number of feral predators.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian brush turkey is the largest extant representative of the family Megapodiidae, and is one of three species to inhabit Australia. However, despite its name, the Australian brush turkey is not closely related to American turkeys. It belongs to a wholly different family of birds.
The Australian brush turkey, or gweela, is a common, widespread species of mound-building bird from the family Megapodiidae. It is found in eastern Australia, from Far North Queensland to Eurobodalla on the South Coast of New South Wales. It has also been introduced to Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
The Australian brush turkey is a large, ground-dwelling bird with black-brown plumage, a bald, red head, and a yellow neck pouch (or wattle). They grow to as much as two and a half feet long, with a wingspan of about 33 inches.
