About 245 million turkeys are slaughtered each year in the U.S., with 46 million alone killed just for Thanksgiving. While turkeys are as social and playful as cats and dogs, there could be no starker difference between the lives and deaths of these creatures and that of most companion animals.
Wild turkeys are fascinating birds that have made an incredible conservation comeback in North America. Their lifespans can vary greatly depending on habitat food availability predators, hunting pressures, and other environmental factors.
Average Lifespan
The average lifespan for wild turkeys is:
- Hens: 3 years
- Toms: 4 years
However, these are rough estimates and many turkeys may survive longer or shorter in certain conditions. The maximum lifespan recorded in wild turkeys is 10-12 years.
Factors Affecting Lifespan
Several key factors play a role in determining the lifespan of wild turkeys:
Predators
Wild turkeys face threats from a wide range of predators throughout their lives. Eggs and poults are especially vulnerable to predators like raccoons, snakes, owls, hawks, coyotes, and bobcats. Adult hens on the ground nesting are also at high risk.
While adult toms are relatively safe in trees, they face risks travelling between roosting and feeding areas Predation is a leading cause of mortality in wild turkeys.
Hunting
In many states, spring and fall turkey hunting seasons help control populations. Responsible hunting practices ensure sustainability, but excessive hunting pressure can reduce average lifespans.
Food Availability
Turkeys with abundant food sources nearby have higher nutrition and don’t need to expend as much energy roaming. This reduces disease susceptibility and predation risk.
Poor habitat with limited food requires more movement lowering nutrition and survival rates. Good habitats allow turkeys to reach their maximum lifespan.
Weather Severity
Harsh winters or extreme weather events can wipe out many wild turkeys if they lack appropriate shelter and food resources to survive. Milder climates are more favorable for longevity.
Diseases
Diseases like avian pox, Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus, blackhead disease, and avian cholera can rapidly spread through turkey flocks leading to high mortality rates. Proper nutrition and habitat reduce disease susceptibility.
Human Interactions
Habitat loss from urbanization and collisions with cars and windows take a toll on wild turkey numbers. Responsible land use helps maintain turkey populations.
Maximum Lifespan
While 4 years old is rare for a wild tom turkey, there are recorded cases of wild turkeys reaching 10-12 years old. However, this represents the extreme upper range and requires near perfect conditions.
A 10-12 year old turkey is the equivalent of a 100 year old human! This maximum age is usually only seen in wild turkeys living in large protected parks and refuge areas with controlled hunting, prime habitat, and mild weather.
Lifespan by Region
There can be regional differences in average turkey lifespan based on specific local conditions:
- Coastal Plains: 3-4 years average
- Appalachian Mountains: 2-3 years
- Northern Forests: 2-3 years
- Arid Southwest: 2-4 years
Mild climates and abundant oak forests support longer lifespans, while harsh winters and arid conditions reduce averages.
Supporting Longer Lives
Responsible land management and hunting practices help create favorable conditions for wild turkeys to reach their maximum lifespan potential.
You can help support wild turkey conservation by:
- Improving habitat on your property
- Volunteering for habitat projects
- Learning safe turkey hunting practices
- Respecting roosting areas
- Reporting sick or dead turkeys
- Reducing collisions and accidents
While the average wild turkey only lives a few short years, with our help their populations can continue thriving across North America to reach their impressive maximum lifespan.
How Long Do Turkeys Take To Grow
During the spring nesting season, wild female turkeys called hens will lay between nine and 13 eggs, incubating them day and night for about 28 days.
On factory farms, hens lay 100 to 130 eggs for six to seven months until their productivity declines. They lay eggs in nest boxes that automatically force out the hens and move the eggs to a conveyor belt. Turkey eggs are then transported to commercial hatcheries, where they are placed into incubators.
Newly-hatched chicks — called poults — usually leave the nest within 12 to 24 hours. In two weeks, poults can fly short distances and start roosting in trees.
Juvenile males are called jakes and juvenile females are called jennies. Technically, jakes can breed at age 1. But they may find it difficult to compete with mature toms and wind up traveling in search of a mate.
Most turkey breeds will mature between 14-22 weeks of age. Heritage breeds, however, take 25-30 weeks. Turkey toms grow to an average live weight of 41 pounds, while hens average 17 pounds each. Modern birds grow astonishingly quickly, reaching a weight of over 20 kgs or 44 pounds by the time they are slaughtered between 9 and 24 weeks of age.
How Long Do Wild Turkeys Live In Captivity?
In captivity, turkeys can live for up to 10 years, depending on their living conditions.
5 FACTS | Wild Turkey (True Facts)
FAQ
What is the life expectancy of a wild turkey?
How can you tell how old a wild turkey is?
Do wild turkeys remember humans?
Do turkeys mate for life?
How long do wild turkeys live?
If a wild turkey’s natural habitat has all the required resources close by, they’ll likely live for a long time, but if they must range to gather food, their lifespan average will decrease. Because of that, wild turkeys usually live for 3-4 years but they can live for 10-12 years in captivity.
How long do turkeys live in captivity?
This shorter lifespan is largely the result of predation, but habitat also has a large part to play. Depending on the breed, turkeys in captivity can easily live for 10–12 years if properly cared for, but if raised for meat production in factory farms, they are typically slaughtered at 5 or 6 months old. Why Do Some Turkeys Live Longer Than Others?
What is the life expectancy of a turkey hen?
In general, the average life expectancy for hens is three years and four years for toms. Everyone likes to blame predators as the chief factor when discussing a wild turkey’s life expectancy, but, while predation is no doubt a factor, there is a larger process to consider.
How long can a turkey live in a tree?
The number one killer of adult turkeys is prolonged winter storms, where crusted ice keeps them from finding food. But turkeys are tough, and can stay in a tree for several days, losing a good bit of body fat but still surviving. Under ideal conditions toms can live up to five years (but more likely two or three), hens six to eight years.