Do Turkeys Lay Eggs? The Surprising Truth About Turkey Eggs

For hunters, spring marks the beginning of the “turkey year” so let’s trace turkey activity through the year beginning in the spring.

The peak of the breeding season has already passed by the time the spring turkey hunting season opens April 15. Toms will breed with multiple hens throughout the spring and early summer. As the eggs develop, the hen will build a ground nest in a place with good cover and close to good brood habitat, which is normally an opening in the forest cover.

Once she starts laying eggs, a hen will lay one egg every 24 to 32 hours – taking about two weeks to lay a full clutch of nine to 13 eggs. In between laying eggs, the hen will focus on feeding and bulking up to withstand the upcoming incubation period.

Once all the eggs have been laid, the hen will incubate them, day and night, for about 28 days. Incubation is interrupted only for an occasional mid-day snack of protein-rich insects.

Newly hatched chicks – called poults – can walk shortly after hatching and usually leave the nest within 12 – 24 hours. After eight to 14 days, young poults can fly short distances and start roosting in trees.

If a hen loses a clutch shortly after laying, she can re-nest without having to re-breed because the sperm from initial mating remains viable for up to 30 days. Hunters seeing a newly hatched brood of turkeys in late August or September, might think this a hen’s second or third clutch. In fact, it’s more likely the hen has lost a brood and simply re-nested.

The biggest threat to a young turkey’s survival is within its first 10 days of life. If their down gets wet from rain, hypothermia is likely. They also are most vulnerable to predation by ravens, crows, hawks, skunks, raccoon, fox, coyote, bobcats and even stray cats.

Turkeys are a popular centerpiece for holiday meals and a lean source of protein year-round. But when was the last time you saw turkey eggs for sale at the grocery store or even at a farmers market? If you’ve never seen turkey eggs before, you may be wondering – do turkeys lay eggs at all?

The short answer is yes turkeys do lay eggs just like chickens and other birds. However there are some key differences that explain why turkey eggs are not commonly consumed. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about turkey eggs, including

How turkey eggs compare to chicken eggs
Why you don’t see turkey eggs for sale
Where you can find turkey eggs
What turkey eggs taste like
The nutrition profile of turkey eggs

Do Turkeys Lay Eggs?

Turkeys, like all birds, are oviparous – meaning they lay eggs. However, turkeys only lay a fraction of the eggs that chickens do. On average, a healthy chicken can lay up to 300 eggs per year, while a turkey will only lay around 100 eggs annually.

There are a few reasons for turkeys’ lower egg production:

Slower to mature Turkeys don’t begin laying eggs until 28 weeks of age versus 20 weeks for chickens. This gives chickens a big head start on egg production.
Longer egg laying cycle: Once a turkey starts laying, she will only produce eggs about 2 times per week. A prolific chicken can lay an egg nearly every day.
Shorter egg laying season Turkeys generally only lay eggs between March and June Chickens will lay year-round as long as they get enough light

Turkey Eggs vs Chicken Eggs

Since most of us are familiar with chicken eggs, it’s useful to understand how turkey eggs differ:

Size: Turkey eggs are much larger than chicken eggs, averaging about 2.5 ounces compared to a large chicken egg at 2 ounces.
Color: Turkey egg shells can be white, speckled, cream, or brown. Chicken egg shells are generally white or brown.
Shell: Turkey egg shells are thicker than chicken egg shells.
Taste: Turkey eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, with a slightly richer, creamier flavor.
Nutrition: Turkey eggs are higher in calories, protein, fat, and cholesterol compared to chicken eggs due to their larger size.

So while turkey eggs share many similarities with chicken eggs, their richer taste and nutrition profile does set them apart.

Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs?

With their excellent nutrition and flavor, it may seem that turkey eggs would be a popular menu item. So why don’t we see turkey eggs for sale and consumed more often? There are a few primary reasons:

Lower supply: With turkeys producing far fewer eggs than chickens, there is lower availability.
Higher cost: It is more expensive to raise turkeys for eggs than chickens. This drives up the cost making turkey eggs prohibitive for many consumers.
More profitable as meat: Farmers make more money raising turkeys for meat production rather than eggs.
Lack of consumer awareness: Most people don’t know turkeys lay eggs and haven’t developed a taste for them. There is low consumer demand.
Short shelf life: Turkey eggs have a shorter shelf life than chicken eggs, making them more difficult to transport and stock.

Essentially, economics and consumer habits keep turkey eggs from being a mainstream food item. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth seeking out!

Where Can You Buy Turkey Eggs?

You’re unlikely to find turkey eggs stocked at your average grocery store. However, here are a few places you may be able to source fresh turkey eggs:

Local farms: Contact farms in your area that raise turkeys for meat production and ask if they sell extra eggs.
Farmers markets: Specialty farmers or those raising heritage breed turkeys may bring turkey eggs to farmers markets.
Online: Some turkey farms sell eggs online, either individually or in bulk. Make sure to factor in shipping costs.
Raise your own: If you have the space and time, consider keeping a breeding pair of turkeys to produce eggs for your family. Heritage breeds are a good choice.

It takes effort to locate turkey eggs, but be patient and you can usually track some down if you are interested in trying them. Reach out to local farmers and make connections.

What Do Turkey Eggs Taste Like?

Most people describe the taste of turkey eggs as similar to chicken eggs, but richer and creamier in texture. The higher fat content of turkey eggs contributes to their lush mouthfeel.

Some specific ways turkey eggs differ from chicken eggs in flavor:

Yolk: The yolk has a deeper orange color and richer taste.
White: The egg white is thicker than chicken egg whites.
Whole egg: The whole turkey egg tastes more robust, almost like an egg on steroids.
Cookery: Turkey eggs work well cooked any style from fried, to poached, to scrambled. Their rich taste comes through no matter how they are prepared.

Overall, those who have tried turkey eggs typically agree the taste is on par or better than chicken eggs. Don’t let their rarity scare you off from a tasty culinary experience.

Nutrition Profile of Turkey Eggs

Turkey eggs trump chicken eggs when it comes to nutrition. Here’s how they compare:

Protein: Turkey eggs contain about 11 grams of protein versus 6 grams in chicken eggs.
Fat: 9 grams of fat in turkey eggs, 5 grams in chicken eggs.
Cholesterol: 933 mg cholesterol in turkey eggs, 372 mg in chicken eggs.
Calories: 135 calories per turkey egg, 72 calories in a chicken egg.
Vitamins and minerals: Turkey eggs are rich sources of iron, folate, vitamin B12, and more.

The greater amount of essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals give turkey eggs an edge nutritionally. The higher cholesterol content is the only potential downside.

However, current research indicates dietary cholesterol has a smaller impact on blood cholesterol levels than once believed. The cholesterol in turkey eggs itself should not be a major concern for most people.

Should You Eat Turkey Eggs?

Turkey eggs clearly have a stellar nutritional profile and delicious taste. So should you eat them if you get the chance?

For most people, absolutely! Turkey eggs can be a nutritious and flavorful addition to your diet. Here are some benefits you may enjoy:

Dense protein source: The abundant protein will keep you full and support muscle growth.
Healthy fats: Turkey eggs provide omega-3s and other essential fatty acids for brain and heart health.
Key micronutrients: Vitamins like folate and minerals like iron are vital for energy, immunity, and preventing anemia.
Rich flavor: The creamy, rich taste of turkey eggs is a nice change of pace from chicken eggs.

The only potential concern is the extremely high cholesterol levels in turkey eggs. But for healthy individuals, the dietary cholesterol should not negatively impact blood cholesterol. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

Overall, turkey eggs can absolutely be part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. They provide exceptional nutrition to fuel your body. The unique flavor is just an added benefit that makes enjoying turkey eggs even better.

Time to Try Turkey Eggs?

While you may have never realized turkeys lay eggs before today, hopefully now you have an appreciation for this lesser known food. Although they require some effort to source, turkey eggs can be an awesome nutritional and culinary find.

From their stellar nutrition to rich, creamier taste, turkey eggs have a lot going for them. They can be an amazing occasional change of pace from regular chicken eggs.

Next time you come across some turkey eggs at a farm stand or market, consider picking up a few to fry, poach, scramble or bake. We think you’ll be impressed by how delicious they are!

does turkey lay eggs

Winter flocks and migration

As summer progresses, hens and their growing poults will join other hens and poults. At the same time, mature toms form bachelor flocks, often of like ages. By winter, turkey flocks may grow to 200 or more birds.

As winter weather sets in, turkeys in low elevation habitats, such as valley floors, don’t need to migrate because the winter weather at these elevations is rather mild. However, at higher elevations where severe weather can put birds at risk, turkeys will migrate between lower and higher elevations as weather changes in the spring and fall. This is especially true in parts of central and eastern Oregon.

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. An eight-year-old hen is rare, however, and comparable to a 100-year-old person.

Turkey Eggs: All You Need to Know About Them

FAQ

Can turkey eggs be eaten?

Did you know that you can eat Turkey eggs? Turkey eggs are only about 50%. larger than a chicken egg, but they have nearly twice the amount of calories, fats, and protein. But the look, texture, and flavor of a Turkey egg. is nearly identical to that of a chicken egg.

How often does a turkey lay an egg?

As the eggs develop, the hen will build a ground nest in a place with good cover and close to good brood habitat, which is normally an opening in the forest cover. Once she starts laying eggs, a hen will lay one egg every 24 to 32 hours – taking about two weeks to lay a full clutch of nine to 13 eggs.

Do turkeys lay eggs without a male?

Occasionally, the eggs of female turkeys will — without any sperm involved — spontaneously develop into embryos and then into baby turkeys (which are always males). This process is called parthenogenesis and has also been recorded in many other types of animals, including bees, lizards, and sharks.