We've heard of seasonal colors, but never really associated neons with autumn and the Thanksgiving holiday. Not to mention, with turkey feathers. Seeing these bright-colored turkeys doesn't exactly boost our appetite for the upcoming holiday, but we looked into how these guys get so colorful and it's not as bad as one might guess:
From Gozzi's Turkey Farm in Guilford, Connecticut, these turkeys are Gozzi Whites. Their feathers are known for being white and their meat is renowned throughout the region, to whom the Gozzis supply over 18,000 turkeys per year. Non-toxic, vegetable-based food dye is applied to their "blank canvases" to create these bright colors: it's all topical and harmless.
See a video of the turkeys at Fine Cooking. Have you ever been to visit the famous Gozzi turkeys?
Related: Where Should I Buy My (Organic) Thanksgiving Turkey?
(Image: about.com)
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Comments (14)
But...why?
We always used to go there to see the colored turkeys when I was a kid!
@wbrunner, exactly... why?
Just leave the poor birds alone.
Feathers serve to waterproof birds and to regulate body temperature. Please provide evidence from a veterinary medicine journal that this nonsense is "harmless".
So... what's the point of doing this? Just because you can? Seems a little sad to me.
This is just wrong.
My mom raised chickens in her back yard growing up and said at the time tons of places sold dyed chicks as a novelty to get people to buy them. Once they molted, it was regular feathers. Same here, I'm sure.
I don't have a problem with it but I agree it's not necessary. Granted, they don't have to worry too long since they said its a turkey breed raised for eating, and even if not, feathers molt regularly so it's really not a big deal. To each their own I guess!
Honestly, you're already slaughtering them, why not let them have a little dignity while they're still alive?
I would feel much better about the colors if it were for some reason used to attract visitors to a farm of rescued turkeys who are not going to be slaughtered. Otherwise, it is just upsetting. Why even do that? Like their looking cute somehow makes their slaughter less awful?
You can change the color of chickens yolks by feeding them food dye as well (harmless, and kids find it fun at easter).
Hey, if it attracts people to a heritage breed and helps build an organic business, more power to 'em.
it may not be harmful but it must be annoying for the poor birds...
I find it sort of funny that people are offended by this. Does anyone actually believe a turkey feels undignified and humiliated by this? Or that the very small amount of dye in the feathers actually effects the birds quality life in any significant way? Having had chickens before (as well as pet parrots etc.), I feel pretty confident that these turkeys are not gonna lose any sleep over having some food dye applied to them, as long as you keep them in grain and give them room to roam and a nice place to sleep at night. If they're getting that, they're doing a damn sight better than most of the turkeys in this country and I think that is great.
If it is getting more people interested in their local heritage breeds and small farms, especially at an early age (which is clearly the target audience), then as JackieDee30 said, good for them.
The birds are going to be eaten. I don't think dying them pink is going to have much effect on them when they are about to be slaughtered for dinner.
As far as feathers keeping the birds dry - food dye isn't going to change that. Food dye is water based - it is just getting the bird wet. Getting a bird wet does not make it less waterproof.