Thanksgiving Without Turkey? A Valid Argument For Skipping The Bird. There are ample reasons you may not want to serve a turkey at your feast. Experts offer ways to create a new holiday tradition.

huffington post ^

[mylife]

If you’re having turkey at your Thanksgiving, Karen Davis is not the guest you want at your table.

The president of United Poultry Concerns and a tireless advocate for chickens, turkeys and other farmed fowl, Davis can rattle off details and statistics about how turkeys are raised and “harvested” (industry-speak for slaughtered) that are guaranteed to curb — or kill — your appetite. But she’ll settle for three big reasons to skip the turkey this Thanksgiving: “Animal cruelty, disease, filth — the toxic waste in the conditions in which the birds are forced to live.”

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, close to 230 million turkeys were slaughtered in 2018 ― more than the number of Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 right now. Food production on that scale doesn’t happen in an idyllic farm setting; it happens in concentrated animal-feeding operations (CAFOs). The Environmental Protection Agency mandates a small CAFO be limited to 16,500 turkeys, while a large one can hold 55,000 or more.

At Davis’ sanctuary in Virginia — Tyson and Perdue territory — turkeys and chickens run free. “Turkeys like to run. They’re great walkers. But turkeys bred for the turkey meat industry are so disproportioned, with this big, heavy breast. Their toenails are cut off so they can’t grip the ground well,” she said. And anyway, there’s nowhere for them to go. Their brief lives are spent confined “beak to butt.

[firebrand]

I go to the local diner and order all the sides without the turkey instead of the too-big expensive Thanksgiving dinner on the menu.

Last few years we have had a dinner at the diner for those who don’t want to go home and argue politics, or even worse have to listen to the libs while trying not to argue. We skipped last year but may do it again this year.

[mylife]

There was a wonderful place in SD Ca called the “pot pie shop”

all the sides, rolls, and desert $5

chicken, turkey, beef, and gravy for the rolls

[mylife]

https://chickenpieshops.com/

[octex]

That was very good! You have a talent there.

[mmichaels1970]

Update...since Karen got it fresh in my mind, I noticed that turkeys were $0.33/lb at a local store. I was able to bolster my turkey inventory from 5 to 8. I am now the proud owner of 8 frozen turkeys. A new personal best for me!