Thanksgiving , an American president `` pardons '' a turkey or 219 million just before Thanksgiving . President Abraham Lincoln has sent his turkeys to Mt . Vernon for their `` twilight years '' But a pardon just means the birds are n't stuffed and eaten ; they 're not expected to live long . Americans turkeys are bred to be consumed , many of them at Thanksgiving .
Each year , an American president `` pardons '' a turkey or two just before Thanksgiving . President Barack Obama has sent his turkeys to Mt . Vernon for their `` twilight years '' But a pardon just means the birds are n't stuffed and eaten ; they 're not expected to live long . American turkeys are bred to be consumed , many of them at Thanksgiving .