HOliday Turkeys

For over two decades we've raised holiday turkeys on pasture. We supplement our free ranging turkey's diet using high quality grain. We pride ourself in careful attention to our animals well being, health, and happiness. 

Photo by Kristopher Radder

 
 

Why we raise our birds differently

  1. Natural behavior first
    We manage flocks on pasture so birds can express instincts like foraging, scratching, and dust-bathing — behavior that keeps them healthier and less stressed.

  2. Building soil, naturally
    Moving birds across paddocks helps cycle nutrients and rebuild soil fertility without chemical inputs, improving pasture productivity over time.

  3. Diet that matters
    Birds raised on a varied, pasture-based diet develop more flavor and nutrition than those fed only curated grain rations — meat reflects what the animal ate its whole life.

Learn More about Pastured Poultry

Photo by Kristopher Radder

Why is it more work?

Pasture-raised poultry requires more daily attention and hands-on labor than conventional systems. Here’s what that looks like:

  1. Fresh water and feed—twice a day
    Because our birds live outdoors, we bring them fresh water and grain morning and evening. It’s simple, but it keeps them healthy and growing strong.

  2. Constant movement and care
    Electrified netting and mobile coops are shifted regularly to give birds new pasture and protect them from predators. It’s a daily chore that keeps both the flock and the land thriving.

  3. Fewer birds, more intention
    Pasture systems limit how many birds we can raise at once. We choose quality over quantity, focusing on bird welfare and soil health instead of volume. Less crowding also reduces stress and disease transmission, so flocks stay healthier.

  4. Daily coop moves
    Moving coops gives the birds access to fresh forage and keeps manure evenly distributed, which builds healthier pasture over time. 

 

Celebrate the Holidays with a Meadowdale Farm Turkey

Holidays are special occasions to gather with the people we love and share what matters most. At Meadowdale Farm, our turkeys live outdoors on lush pastures, foraging for grass, bugs, and other natural treats, with supplemental high-quality non-GMO grain. Every day, we move their mobile coops to give them fresh forage and keep our pastures healthy.

This year, bring a true taste of the season to your table with one of our naturally raised, fresh-harvested, pasture-raised turkeys — no vaccinations, antibiotics, or medications are ever used.

Our Turkeys

All of our turkeys are first-come, first-served. Each bird is raised with care to ensure flavorful, nutrient-rich meat perfect for your holiday centerpiece.

Giblets (neck, heart, liver, gizzard) are not included but are available separately.

Pickup (Monday November 24, 2025)

  • 3 pm - 8 pm — Stop by the farm in Lenoir City. We’ll have your reservation name on a tag and you can select the fresh packaged turkey you’d like. At check out we subtract your deposit of $50 from the total price.

  • Being signed up for our e-newsletter is really important. It’s the best way to know our address and other details. At the bottom of every webpage on this site is a “Subscribe” section at the very bottom for easy sign up.

  • We recommend bringing a large cooler, trash bag, or plastic storage container to transport your bird home in. While we package them in BPA-free plastic bags there can be condensation. If you are traveling a distance throw in some ice packs too!

  • We can’t hold fresh turkeys for alternative pick up. If you are unable to arrange pick up of your turkey let us know and we can let one offer it to someone on our waitlist.

Deposit & Payment

  • $50 deposit reserves your turkey (applied to total price)

  • Deposits are nonrefundable

  • Remaining balance due at pickup

  • Feel free to get us cash or venmo us by clicking here.

Availability

Meadowdale is a small, family-run farm dedicated to bird welfare and pasture health. Our flock sizes are limited to ensure healthy birds and sustainable pastures. Because of this, customers should be flexible on exact weights. Our 2025 turkey reservations are full. Please subscribe to our e-newsletter list to be notified when 2026 reservations open. (To sign up scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email.)

Do You have Corn or Soy Free Turkeys

At Meadowdale Farm, our turkeys are pasture-raised and fed regionally sourced, expeller-pressed grain feed from Resaca Sun Feed. This feed is mechanically pressed rather than chemically extracted — meaning no hexane — and is certified non-GMO. Using local, high-quality ingredients supports regional farmers and ensures the feed is wholesome, clean, and nutritionally balanced.

Some customers worry that feeding turkeys corn or soy will make their meat less healthy. In reality, this isn’t the case. Corn provides energy, and soy supplies protein rich in essential amino acids that build lean, nutrient-rich muscle. By the time it becomes meat, those nutrients are fully incorporated — there’s no “soy” or “corn” left in your turkey.

Because our birds are pasture-raised, they have access to fresh greens, insects, and seeds, which naturally balances their fatty acids and adds omega-3s. This means their diet is diverse and their meat is both healthy and flavorful.

Corn and soy have also been part of human and animal diets for thousands of years:

  • Corn was central to Indigenous agriculture in the Americas, forming part of the “Three Sisters” system alongside beans and squash.

  • Soybeans were first domesticated in East Asia and valued for their high-quality protein.

Completely removing corn and soy can be challenging: birds may grow more slowly, develop feathering or immune issues, or require carefully balanced alternative feeds that are harder to source locally. Non-GMO substitutes like wheat, barley, or oats aren’t widely grown in Tennessee, so using them would increase costs and environmental impact from transportation. That’s why we stick with non-GMO, expeller-pressed corn and soy — it ensures healthy growth, strong immunity, and flavorful meat.

For customers interested in specialty-fed turkeys — for example, corn- and soy-free — we’re happy to consider this if you can organize a group of at least 15 committed customers (enough for a batch of about 50 turkeys). Custom feeding requires planning and larger orders, but it’s possible when there’s community interest.

Read More about why we feed what we feed


Photo by Kristopher Radder

Turkey Sizes Vary—Plan Ahead, Stay Flexible

You can reserve your turkey in advance, but specific sizes aren’t guaranteed. Our birds are pastured and raised naturally on our small farm, which means their growth depends on the seasons, forage, and time spent on pasture.

Unlike industrial farms, which raise birds year-round and freeze them to offer exact sizes, we raise our turkeys fresh for the holiday season. This means the birds you choose at pickup will vary in size—but you’ll always get a healthy, flavorful bird.

If your turkey ends up a little larger or smaller than your recipe calls for, don’t worry! A slightly bigger bird just needs a few extra minutes in the oven. If it’s a bit smaller, we also have turkey breasts, wings, drumsticks, and thighs available, so you can supplement your roast and still have a full holiday meal.


Video Tutorial on How to Cut up a Fresh Turkey

Easy Turkey Recipes

Did you grow up cooking a Butterball with one of those inaccurate pop-up plastic timers?!

Cooking a Turkey is easy and doesn’t take all day. We recommend following these instructions for Brining and Roasting.

With 10 minutes of YouTube and our equipment supplies you’ll be a Rock Star of your gathering! All the equipment listed below has a clickable link.

Turkey Equipment:

BRINING A TURKEY 101
JUICY TURKEY SECRET TIP