Adopt a Turkey

Caregiver sharing affectionate moment with turkeys Adopt Today

Adopt a Turkey

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey Project has encouraged people to symbolically adopt a rescued turkey at Thanksgiving instead of eating one.

It’s hard to accept that 46 million turkeys will be slaughtered this Thanksgiving in the name of tradition. Nearly all of these birds live in confinement on factory farms and endure painful mutilations, including debeaking and toe removal procedures without anesthesia. These living, feeling individuals deserve so much better.

You can help inspire people to think about turkeys differently. We invite you to adopt a turkey this Thanksgiving — instead of eating one!

With a donation of $35, you can symbolically adopt a rescued turkey living at Farm Sanctuary — and for $150, you can sponsor this year’s featured flock. Adopt for yourself or as a gift to a friend or family member!

Each Farm Sanctuary Adopt a Turkey adoption:

  • Arrives with a personalized digital certificate with your name, a photo, and facts about the adopted turkey;
  • Provides an optional bi-fold printed certificate (great for displaying on your holiday table!);
  • Offers our deepest thanks for supporting our rescue, education, and advocacy work on behalf of turkeys and other farm animals.

This year, we’re also excited to introduce the Flock Advocate package! This $500 gift includes a special Flock Advocate certificate, a commemorative 2023 Adopt a Turkey mug and an invitation to an exclusive conversation with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur.

Meet the 2023 Spokesturkeys

Thelma turkey
Andrelle turkey
Lizzie turkey
Tutu turkey
Celeborn turkey

Thelma “The Tender Heart”

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.

Adopt Thelma

Arendelle “The Cuddle Bug”

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.

Adopt Andrelle

Lizzie “The Free Spirit”

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.

Adopt Lizzie

Tutu “The Charmer”

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.

Adopt Tutu

Celeborn “The Protector”

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.

Adopt Celeborn
Thelma turkey

Thelma “The Tender Heart”

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.

Adopt Thelma
Andrelle turkey

Arendelle “The Cuddle Bug”

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.

Adopt Andrelle
Lizzie turkey

Lizzie “The Free Spirit”

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.

Adopt Lizzie
Tutu turkey

Tutu “The Charmer”

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.

Adopt Tutu
Celeborn turkey

Celeborn “The Protector”

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.

Adopt Celeborn

Adopt the Flock

The Flock

Having a hard time deciding who to adopt? With a $150 gift, you can adopt the whole flock!

Each member of our flock has a distinct personality — Tutu is outgoing and charms everyone she meets, Thelma is a kind and sensitive soul, Celeborn loves to show off and impress our guests, Arendelle is sweet but sassy, and Lizzie prefers to live life according to her own rules. Despite their differences, they are each a valued member of our Farm Sanctuary family and they are all ambassadors for the 46 million turkeys slaughtered for a Thanksgiving meal.

Adopt the Flock

Be a Flock Advocate

Flock Advocate

At Farm Sanctuary, we fight against the worst harms of industrial animal agriculture and lead bold reforms to “build the good” — just, sustainable food systems with no animal exploitation. Since 1986, the three pillars of our mission have been to Rescue, Educate, and Advocate.

Your $500 Flock Advocate sponsorship includes:

  • A special “Flock Advocate” adoption certificate (all donors receive a digital version, and you can include an optional printed certificate as well).
  • A commemorative 2023 Adopt a Turkey mug (only available through the Flock Advocate gift).
  • An invitation to join an exclusive conversation with Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur.

Our turkey flock currently at sanctuary goes beyond the five turkeys featured this holiday, and your compassionate support allows us to continue care for all of them while advocating for the millions of turkeys within the factory farming system. Your Flock Advocate gift helps Farm show the world their true personalities, and be a leading voice for those still exploited in animal agriculture.

Be an Advocate

Who is your turkey bestie?

who is your turkey bestie quiz

Want to find your inner turkey?

Take our quiz to see which of our five Adopt a Turkey “Spokesturkeys” is most like you! You may have more in common with a turkey than you think.

Take the Quiz
Beyond Meat

Thank you to our 2023 Adopt a Turkey sponsor!

Beyond Meat

FAQs

Turkeys are social, emotional, and sentient beings with unique personalities. Sadly, 223 million are slaughtered for food each year — with more than 68 million turkeys just for the November and December holiday season. Your symbolic adoption helps Farm Sanctuary care for our rescued turkeys, protect others still in need, and raise awareness about the beautiful lives they lead when they’re allowed to live.

Your sponsorship gift helps provide for your turkey’s day-to-day needs — including food, straw bedding, and medical care. It also supports Farm Sanctuary’s rescue, education, and advocacy work on behalf of turkeys still entrapped within America’s farming system.

Turkeys have unlimited sponsors — it takes a lot to support our rescued animals’ lifelong, individualized care. And there’s plenty of love to go around!

Thank you for your compassion! Learn more about our Farm Animal Adoption Network (Farm Sanctuary’s external placement program).

These turkeys are permanent Farm Sanctuary residents! They were rescued from harm and receive daily, specialized care. They’ll spend the rest of their natural lives among their flocks.

We’ll send you a print or digital certificate (your choice!) featuring your new turkey friend. Your donation also grants you a one-year membership with Farm Sanctuary (and includes perks like Sanctuary magazine!). Click here to learn about year-round adoptions through our Adopt a Farm Animal Program.

If you’re having trouble placing an online order, we also accept phone orders at 1-855-666-3276 (FARM).

Thank you so much for adopting! Please call 1-855-666-FARM (3276) or email [email protected] to contact our shop team.

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Contact Us

For questions about your order, or to order by phone, customer service is available Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm ET.

1-855-666-FARM (3276)

Jackie Turkey at Farm Sanctuary

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