This resource was fully reviewed and updatedA member of The Open Sanctuary Project’s staff has given this resource a full review and provided updates where necessary. by a member of The Open Sanctuary Project as of April 10, 2026. It was originally published on March 23, 2018.

What Do We Mean By “Gentle” Restraint?
In agricultural settings, restraint may focus primarily on human convenience and task efficiency, but in sanctuary spaces, the focus should always be on resident comfort and well-being as well as on the safety of both the humans and the residents involved. We use the descriptor “gentle” to emphasize that restraint should not be domineering or unnecessarily forceful and should not cause pain. While restraint may be stressful for some individuals, the goal should always be to find ways to keep residents at ease. That said, please do not misinterpret “gentle handling” to mean that you cannot hold a resident firmly. While it’s obviously important not to be rough or to hold someone so tightly you restrict their breathing or cause them pain, holding them too loosely could actually result in injury to yourself or the resident. We’ll talk more about this below.

If you’re caring for turkeysUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated turkey breeds, not wild turkeys, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource., you must know how to gently handle and restrain them. Gentle handling and restraint can be necessary for a variety of care-related tasks, but it should always be approached thoughtfully. Situations that may require gentle handling and restraint include performing health checks, closely evaluating an individual showing signs of concern, administering medications, or responding to an emergency. 

Some turkeys are more tolerant of restraint and handling than others. While some of this may come down to individual personalities and preferences, an individual’s size, health, and socialization also factor in. You may find that some residents require modifications to your typical handling and restraint technique to ensure their comfort and safety.

Find Ways To Make It Positive!
As you work with your residents, be sure to find ways to make handling and restraint a positive (or at least neutral) experience. Consider giving them a small, turkey-appropriate treat after handling so they have a positive memory to associate the experience with (remember that weight management is an important part of large breedDomesticated animal breeds that have been selectively bred by humans to grow as large as possible, as quickly as possible, to the detriment of their health. turkeyUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated turkey breeds, not wild turkeys, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. care when choosing an appropriate treat).

The Approach

Before you can restrain a turkey resident, you must be able to get close enough to touch them. Depending on the individual and the circumstances, this may or may not be an easy task. Some residents may come over to you on their own (especially if enticed with the prospects of loving pets or a few tasty treats), and others may be comfortable with you approaching them. Some residents may prefer to keep their distance from humans, in which case you’ll need to approach them thoughtfully. When approaching a turkey, do not chase them! Turkeys are prey animals, and chasing them is going to stress them out. Not only this, but residents will remember a negative experience, which could make them more fearful or agitated when faced with a similar situation, potentially making it harder to approach and restrain them in the future. 

If you need to approach a turkey resident who prefers to keep their distance (and therefore, moves away from you when you approach), you’ll need to use elements of the space to calmly corner them. If you are attempting to do this in a large, wide-open space, you may need to get another person (or a few other people) to help you. Generally speaking, if you can first guide them into a smaller, more contained space, it will be easier to approach them. For example, if they are in a large outdoor space and their indoor space is smaller, you might start by encouraging them to go inside. Encouraging one individual to move where you want them to go is usually more difficult than encouraging a group to do so. Therefore, you’ll typically need to encourage the entire flock, or at least part of the flock, to move indoors rather than trying to get just one resident to do so.

Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll need to approach and restrain someone, it’s helpful to plan ahead. For example, if you know one of your turkey residents needs medication each day, planning to administer it before they are let outside in the morning and/or after they are closed in for bed can make it easier if their outdoor space is large. This way, they will already be in a more confined space, and you won’t have to take the time to guide them back indoors. Not only can this make your life easier and make things take less time, but it will also be less disruptive to the individual.

Turkeys are startled by sudden movements and loud noises, so when encouraging them to move, you’ll want to move slowly and calmly and avoid loud sounds like shouting. Crouching down and extending your arms out to the sides while walking behind them and guiding them in the direction you want them to go can encourage them to move where you need them to. The more people you have helping, the easier it is. If you don’t have a helper, using elements of the living spaceThe indoor or outdoor area where an animal resident lives, eats, and rests. to help guide them (such as walking them along a fence line rather than through the middle of an outdoor space) can sometimes make things easier. Ultimately, you want to guide them into a corner or other confined space so that you can calmly approach them without them moving away from you.

Gentle Handling And Restraint Options

Safety First!
Turkey residents (especially large breed turkey poults) have been known to ingest things they shouldn’t, including their caregiver’s jewelry. We recommend considering removing jewelry that they might be able to reach before restraining or otherwise working closely with them. Ingestion of jewelry or other foreign bodies can lead to serious issues. You can read more about this topic here.

There are multiple options when it comes to gentle restraint for turkeys – different techniques will work better in different situations depending on factors such as the purpose of restraint, resident health and preference, caregiverSomeone who provides daily care, specifically for animal residents at an animal sanctuary, shelter, or rescue. capability and preference, and how many humans are on hand to assist. In general, it’s a good idea to be comfortable using a few different restraint options. This way, you’ll be able to use the most appropriate option based on the circumstances. When considering which restraint option will be best in any given situation, it can be helpful to consider the following:

• How much restraint is necessary to safely perform the task at hand? 
• Do I know which form of restraint this individual is usually most comfortable with?
• Does this individual have health issues that make certain restraint options inadvisable?
• What would be the least stressful form of restraint in this situation? (Consider the individual, the task at hand, etc.)

As you may have guessed from these questions, the most appropriate form of restraint for one resident may not be the best one for another. Additionally, even when considering restraint for the same individual, what is most appropriate when performing one task may not be best in a different situation. For example, you may need very minimal restraint when administering a pill to a resident, but this might not be sufficient if you need to bandage that same resident’s foot.

Up next, we’ll discuss a few different restraint methods that can be helpful to learn when working with turkeys. This will be followed by a brief video showing examples of these restraint methods.

Hands-On Training Is Highly Recommended
If at all possible, you should receive hands-on training by an experienced caregiver or veterinarian (though some veterinarians may have been taught to restrain turkeys in a way that is not aligned with a sanctuary’s philosophy of care). Improper technique can not only lead to undue stress and injuries to turkey residents, but it can also make it difficult for them to breathe. Turkeys rely on some degree of movement of the sternum and rib cage to breathe properly, so holding them too tightly or otherwise restricting this movement can result in suffocation. Working with a compassionate care expert will not only allow you to see how it’s done, but it will also allow you to try to restrain a turkey while receiving feedback and tips on how to make things go more smoothly.

Standing Restraint

For situations that do not require much restraint, you can restrain the resident while they remain standing. While this method may not always be appropriate, it can often be the least stressful way to restrain a turkey. There are a few ways to go about restraining a turkey while they remain standing, and various factors will contribute to whether or not a specific method is appropriate. Two key considerations are whether or not you need your hands (or just one hand) free and what you need to accomplish. 

If you don’t need your hands free (for example, if you are restraining a turkey resident so someone else can perform a certain care task), you can kneel next to them and wrap both arms around their body (as if you were hugging them). You want to make sure their wings are held securely against their body, which is easier to do if your arms are closer to the front of their wings than to their wingtips. Remember that in addition to making sure you are holding them firmly enough to prevent them from getting their wings free (which could result in injury to their wing), you also need to make sure you are not holding them so tightly that it restricts their breathing. 

If you need to have one hand free to perform a task, you can try a variation of the method described above. One way to do this is to use only one arm to restrain them. Kneeling beside them as described above, reach one arm over their back and hold them close to your body to keep them in place. If you look again at the image above of Steve and Cornelius, this would look like Steve using his left hand (that is currently on Cornelius’ chest) to perform whatever task he needs to do. Often, you’ll want to use your less dominant arm to hold the individual so your dominant hand is free. Another option (which is demonstrated in the video below) is to kneel beside the individual and bend your upper body over their back, reaching both arms over to their other side. You can then use one or both upper arms to hold them against your body, if needed. While this method does leave your hands free, the need to use your upper arms to keep the individual restrained may limit your reach and range of motion, so this method may not be appropriate for all care tasks or for individuals who require more restraint. 

If you are new to turkey restraint and need to have both hands and arms totally free, it’s typically best to try holding the individual in your lap (described next) or find someone else who can assist. This way, one person can restrain the individual while the other performs the care task. More experienced caregivers may use other techniques that allow them to keep the individual in a standing position while having their hands free, but this is best attempted after becoming more experienced with turkeys and more comfortable with other forms of restraint.

Holding A Turkey In Your Lap

Another restraint method to familiarize yourself with is holding a turkey resident in your lap. This may be necessary if you (or another caregiver) needs to check the individual’s feet or perform another task that cannot be done with them in a standing position. You may also opt for this method if the individual struggles to get away during standing restraint. There are a few ways to hold a turkey in your lap. One option involves sitting on the floor, and the other requires having something to sit on, like a cinder block or straw bale. For some folks, it may be much more comfortable to sit on something rather than on the floor, and sitting up on something can also make it easier to hold the turkey resident in a more upright position (rather than tilting them on their side). In general, you want to avoid tipping a turkey resident fully onto their side, but for some residents, especially heavier large breed turkeys or individuals with certain health issues, being tilted even only slightly could make it difficult for them to breathe, so keeping them as upright as possible will be necessary. As a side note, some sources claim that placing a turkey on their back will calm them down, but this is a dangerous and stressful practice we do not recommend. 

If you plan on sitting on the floor, one way to move the individual into your lap is to start by kneeling next to them so you are facing the side of their body. Next, restrain them with both arms like you are hugging them, as described above. Make sure both wings are secure against their body, or they may flap them when you move the individual onto your lap. You want to be very close to them, have them held against your body, and have one arm under them to support their weight. In this position, it doesn’t take any big movements to get them onto your lap – you can simply scoop them onto your lap and/or rock back slightly to position them on your lap. Unless the individual is very small, you will likely have to tip them slightly onto their side to do this (otherwise their feet will still be touching the ground, which may encourage them to kick or struggle to get their feet all the way underneath them). Tip them only as much as needed, and watch their color and breathing closely. Open-mouth breathing or a change in the color of their head to a bluish or purple color are signs you need to let them go and give them a chance to calm down. Going forward, you may need to opt for a different restraint method that keeps them perfectly upright.

If you plan to sit on something, we recommend having this set up right next to the resident or walking the resident over to where you’ll be sitting so you don’t have to carry them far. In some cases, you may be able to sit first, and then reach and pick them up (as shown in the video below), but other times, you may need to pick them up and then sit down. As with sitting on the floor, you want to make sure you have both their wings secure before moving them onto your lap. Depending on the individual’s size, comfort with restraint, and what is most comfortable for you, this may be accomplished by using the hug hold (one arm under and one arm over the body) or by having both arms under them, one in front of and one behind their legs (as shown in the last clip in the video). For individuals who tend to flap their wings when lifted, the hug hold may be the easiest way to keep their wings secure. Once you have them held securely, you can gently lift them into your lap (again, making sure they are firmly supported from underneath). If you need to have your hands free, you can reach both arms over their back and hold them against your body with your upper arms, as needed.

Prolapsed Vent
When handling turkeys, especially large breed hens, be sure to watch for signs of a prolapsed vent (tissue protruding from the vent). Gently set the bird down at the first sign of prolapsethe falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position or relations, as further stress can cause the turkey to strain and prolapse more tissue – in severe cases to the point of disemboweling themselves. If the prolapse is small and resolves immediately after the individual is set down, most likely the issue was a result of stress from handling. However, if the prolapse is more than just a small amount of tissue and/or does not resolve quickly, contact your veterinarian for guidance. You can read more about this issue and steps to take while awaiting veterinary care here.

Lifting And Setting Down A Turkey

To pick up a turkey in preparation to carry them somewhere or restrain them while you are in a standing position, bend down and hug them to your chest. Depending on the individual’s size and temperament (as well as your comfort), this may be accomplished by wrapping your arms around them with one above and one under their body, or you may position both arms underneath them (as shown in the last clip of the video). When standing or carrying them, be sure to keep them securely held against your body and hold their wings securely to prevent them from flapping. If they struggle or become stressed, be prepared to set them down.

Consider using A Carrier
If you need to move a turkey to a different location, it may be easier on everyone if you move them into a large sturdy carrier lined with a non-slip material such as a bath mat. Moving the carrier (with the resident inside of it) may make for a calmer trip than carrying the resident in your arms. Just make sure the carrier is sturdy enough to support their weight. When moving a resident in a carrier, take care to keep the carrier upright and avoid jostling it too much. Having a helper is recommended!

When setting a resident down, always make sure their feet are firmly on the ground before letting go of them. Never let a resident jump from your arms or drop them as this can lead to serious injury.

Restraint Methods To Avoid
You should never restrain a turkey resident by their wings, legs, neck, or tail. While an individual may not appreciate being restrained using the methods described above, when done properly, these methods should not cause any pain and should not result in injury to the individual. (That said, certain health conditions could make a particular restraint method inappropriate for a particular resident, so be sure to always consider what each individual needs). Restraining an individual by their wings, legs, neck, or tail will not only cause them undue stress, but it also puts them at risk of injury. Because of this, these restraint methods are unacceptable. At The Open Sanctuary Project, unacceptable means that we cannot condone (or condone through omission) a certain practice, standard, or policy. See a more detailed explanation here.

SOURCES:

Turkey Care | Farm Sanctuary

Turkeys – Handling | NSW Education (Non-Compassionate Source)

The Respiratory System | Poultry Hub Australia (Non-Compassionate Source)

Non-Compassionate Source?
If a source includes the (Non-Compassionate Source) tag, it means that we do not endorse that particular source’s views about animals, even if some of their insights are valuable from a care perspective. See a more detailed explanation here.