Joe Hutto lived pretty much as a turkey for a year, learned their talk and all: My Life As Turkey: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ENr62-oWyPs

It's a rather unsatisfying write-up! Long on pats in the back and short on actual information. Interesting nevertheless.

Yes, get the baseboards off. I'd take out the toilet too, you'll regret it later if you don't, and it's not hard to do.