An undercover investigation into animal welfare conditions at America's biggest turkey-raising farm has found wide-spread abuses, it was claimed today.
As millions of Americans prepare to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the trimmings, the United States Humane Society (USHS) has released footage of how the birds begin their lives.
Secretly filmed at the Willmar Poultry Company hatchery in Willmar, Minnesota, the film allegedly shows a number of abuses including sick and injured chicks being dropped alive into a grinding machine.
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[A]llegations include the removal of the birds' rear toes using scissors, the use of a red-hot laser to remove their beaks and general poor handling which leads to injury.
In the film, new-born chicks - known as poults - are dropped onto a conveyor from which they are picked up by workers.
Their rear toes are then removed by employees using scissors and the birds are left to bleed on the conveyor belt as they are taken away.
Later, the chicks can be seen hanging from their necks with their beaks pointing towards a laser. The machine is used to remove the sharp point in order to prevent them injuring each other.
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In the most disturbing part of the film, sick and injured birds are placed in a hopper which is later dumped into a grinding machine, killing them.
[Daily Mail] [USHS]
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