Turkey Eggs: What Do They Look Like and How Do They Differ from Chicken Eggs?

Americans love eggs, at least chicken eggs: on average, a given American eats about 250 chicken eggs per year. And sure, we’ve started dabbling in other delicious and interesting varieties: the rich, enormous yolks of duck eggs, the tiny delicacy of quail eggs, the technically edible emu egg. But have you ever been served a turkey egg? Or even thought about it? Probably not.

Why not, though? Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different. And the US produced more than 233 million turkeys in 2015, according to the National Turkey Federation. Turkey is the fourth-most-popular meat in the country, behind only chicken, beef, and pork. There are plenty of turkeys around! So what’s the deal? Why are turkey eggs so scarce?

The answer turns out to be a wide combination of factors, all of which together add up to turkey producers pretty much deciding not to bother entering the egg market. For one thing, turkeys lay eggs much less frequently than other birds; a chicken or a duck lays about one egg per day, but a turkey lays at most about two per week. Turkeys are also more expensive to raise in a factory setting, requiring much more space and food than a chicken.

Even worse, turkeys are slow to start laying. “Turkeys have a longer life cycle so they need to get to about 7 months before they are able to produce laying eggs,” says Kimmon Williams of the National Turkey Federation. Chickens only have to reach about 5 months – may not seem like much, but given that turkeys are also more expensive to house and feed, those extra few months can be costly.

Because of the cost of production and scarcity, turkey eggs tend to be quite a bit more expensive, usually around $3/egg – about as much as two dozen commodity chicken eggs. That means that a fertilized egg is much more valuable than an egg for human consumption; it just makes more sense to breed more turkeys than to sell their eggs.

As Thanksgiving approaches, turkeys take center stage But while turkeys end up on millions of dinner tables, their eggs remain a mystery to most. Have you ever cracked open a turkey egg or even seen one? If not, you may be wondering – what do turkey eggs look like compared to the familiar chicken eggs?

Though not as common, turkey eggs actually have some key differences from chicken eggs in terms of size, color, taste, and nutritional value. Keep reading to learn all about the humble turkey egg.

Turkey Eggs Are Much Larger Than Chicken Eggs

The most noticeable difference between chicken and turkey eggs is the size. On average, turkey eggs are about 2-2.7 inches long and weigh between 66-110 grams. That’s around 50 percent larger than a typical chicken egg, which is about 2 inches long and weighs 50 grams.

Some heritage turkey breeds lay even bigger eggs nearing 3 inches long and weighing up to 120 grams. That’s more than double a chicken egg.

So if you’re used to chicken eggs, a turkey egg can look gigantic in comparison. The greater size also makes the shell thicker and harder to crack open.

Shell Color Varies More in Turkey Eggs

While chicken eggs generally have white shells, turkey eggs come in a wider range of shell colors

Turkey egg shells can be:

White
Cream
Light brown
Dark brown
Speckled

The speckled pattern tends to be more prominent in turkey eggs compared to chicken eggs. Wild turkeys usually lay eggs with brown or heavily speckled shells to provide camouflage from predators.

Domestic heritage breeds like the Black Spanish turkey produce very dark chocolate-colored eggs. So turkey eggs can add some colorful variety to your egg basket.

Pointier Shape on One End

Chicken eggs tend to be more symmetrically oval shaped with a rounded end. Turkey eggs have a noticeably sharper, pointier shape on one end compared to the other.

This tapered end allows the egg to fit better into the turkey’s nest. So if you find an egg with one end distinctly narrower and cone-shaped, it’s likely a turkey egg.

Subtly Richer Taste

When it comes to taste, turkey eggs are quite similar to chicken eggs. However, some detect a subtly richer, almost creamier flavor in turkey eggs.

The yolk tends to be a bit larger compared to chicken eggs. And the whites are slightly gelatinous in texture.

People often use turkey eggs as a substitute for chicken eggs in baked goods or omelets. You may need to experiment with adjusting the quantity due to their larger size. But the overall taste won’t seem foreign if you’re used to regular chicken eggs.

Higher Nutrient Content

Thanks to their greater size, turkey eggs pack more nutritional punch than chicken eggs. Here’s how they compare:

Protein – Chicken egg: 6 grams; Turkey egg: 10 grams
Riboflavin – Chicken egg: 0.26 mg; Turkey egg: 0.4 mg
Folate – Chicken egg: 22 mcg; Turkey egg: 34 mcg
Fat – Chicken egg: 5 grams; Turkey egg: 9.5 grams
Calories – Chicken egg: 72; Turkey egg: 120

So in terms of protein, vitamins, fat, and overall calories, turkey eggs provide around 50 percent higher nutritional value. You’d only need to eat one turkey egg to get the same amount of nutrients as two chicken eggs.

Why You Don’t See Turkey Eggs Sold Often

Now that you know more about what turkey eggs look like, you may be wondering why you never see them in supermarkets like chicken eggs.

There are several reasons turkey eggs are less common:

Turkeys only lay about 2-3 eggs per week, versus chickens that lay almost daily. Less supply.
Turkeys start laying eggs later at around 7 months old versus 4-5 months for chickens.
Turkeys require more feed, space, time, and care compared to chickens. More expensive to raise.
Turkey eggs would cost significantly more at retail because of higher production costs. Less consumer demand.

It’s simply not as profitable for most turkey farmers to raise them specifically for eggs compared to chickens. The eggs produced are usually kept to hatch more turkeys.

So while turkeys and chickens both provide delicious eggs, economic factors have made the chicken reign supreme when it comes to commercial egg production. But if you get the chance, giving turkey eggs a taste can be an interesting gastronomic experience.

Understanding how turkey eggs differ from the usual chicken eggs gives you insight into the mysterious life of these giant birds. Next time you dig into a turkey dinner, remember it started as a larger-than-life egg that would look right at home on an Easter hunt!

what do turkey eggs look like

Turkey Eggs: All You Need to Know About Them

FAQ

How do you identify a turkey egg?

Egg Description: Pale yellowish tan, evenly marked with reddish brown or pinkish spots. Condition at Hatching: Well-developed and covered with tawny, brown, pinkish, and gray down.

Can you eat turkey eggs?

Yes, you can eat turkey eggs, and yes, they are delicious! Larger than a chicken egg with a thicker white and larger yolk, turkey eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, only BETTER. When customers return after enjoying our Gourmet Egg Sampler, they almost always report back that the turkey eggs were by far their favorite.

What time of year do turkeys lay eggs?

Eggs laid within a few days after breeding do better than those laid with stored sperm. Most hens are laying at the end of March through early April. Competition to breed is most intense as hens are laying.

Why don’t you see turkey eggs?

Turkey eggs are edible but rare in stores because turkeys lay less frequently and require more resources than chickens, leading to higher costs. Despite being richer and creamier than chicken eggs, their scarcity and higher price limit their mainstream appeal.