Thelma’s rescuer freed her from meat production. While most turkeys today are bred to have white feathers (this yields light-colored bodies, per consumer demand), heritage breeds like Thelma are slaughtered for food, too.

Thankfully, Thelma found a safe place to land at Farm Sanctuary after wildfires nearly destroyed her adoptive home. Thelma is a shy, kind, and sensitive soul. She spends her days roaming her yard and snuggling with friends. Here, our “tender heart” is free to live and love as nature intended.

In her first run as an Adopt a Turkey spokesturkey, Arendelle is a popular lady with many friends, but she wasn’t always safe. In 2014, Arendelle and 24 other baby turkeys were left anonymously at our New York sanctuary overnight, likely from a factory farm. They were dirty, sick with respiratory infections, and had suffered painful “debeaking,” in which the sensitive beak tip is cut or seared off.

These days, Arendelle’s living her golden years on her terms. Her caregivers say she’s sassy and opinionated, and chooses to spend time with friends or gazing at the clouds.

Also new to the program this year is Lizzie! The farm that Lizzie was raised on was marketed as “humane.”Yet, Lizzie and the other animals on this farm were severely neglected and received no care.

Lizzie now lives each day to the fullest at Farm Sanctuary. She spends her days with her best friends, Dulce and Zuzu turkeys, and entertains her caregivers when she lays under, not on, her nesting boxes! Lizzie does things her own rules, and we’re so thankful she has the freedom to do so.

Tutu turkey was born on a factory farm — and, had all gone to plan, she would have been slaughtered for someone’s Thanksgiving dinner. Tutu’s life turned around when a New York City artist rescued her with the intent of sharing Tutu’s story through art.

While the project never took flight (the artist’s school wouldn’t let her keep a bird in her studio), Tutu made it to Farm Sanctuary, where she has put her dark origins behind her and blossomed into one of the friendliest members of our flock.

Celeborn’s former guardians had good intentions, but could no longer care for the many animals they had taken on. Now, safe at Farm Sanctuary, Celeborn’s free to live a life of his choosing — and he prefers one where he’s in charge. Celeborn is bossy around people but has a soft spot for the birds he’s trying to impress.

His biggest devotees are the turkey hens who live next door — and he’ll chase off anyone who dares to come too close to them. He’s charming, flirtatious, and extremely protective of his inner circle.