If you are interested in earning an income with your chickens and other fowl, check this out: Chicken Rich
Turkey eggs are a unique and interesting alternative to the more common chicken eggs. But unlike the familiar white or brown chicken eggs, turkey eggs come in a remarkably diverse range of colors and patterns.
In this complete guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the colors of turkey eggs, their size, nutritional value, and how they compare to chicken eggs.
The Colors and Patterns of Turkey Eggs
The most common turkey egg colors are:
- Creamy white
- Light brown
- Tan
- Pinkish or peach
- Dark brown
- Speckled
Speckled turkey eggs are by far the most common. The speckling can range from light brown dots on a cream background to very heavy concentrated speckling.
Some turkey eggs may also have a solid, uniform color without speckling, but this is less common. Unlike chicken eggs where brown eggs come from breeds like Rhode Island Reds and white from Leghorns, any breed of turkey can lay eggs in a range of colors
This diversity in egg color results from the turkey’s genetics, with different feather patterns expressed in the pigmentation of the egg shell. The speckling serves an evolutionary purpose too, helping camouflage the eggs against predators.
Why Are Turkey Eggs Bigger Than Chicken Eggs?
On average turkey eggs are about 50 percent larger than chicken eggs
- Chicken eggs weigh around 50 grams
- Turkey eggs weigh around 90 grams
Some jumbo turkey eggs can reach weights of up to 115 grams, over twice the size of a large chicken egg.
This size difference occurs because turkeys are much larger birds than chickens. Turkey hens need to produce proportionally sized eggs to match the body size of the incubating adult turkey.
The larger egg size also provides more nutrients to help the poults (baby turkeys) develop and grow within the shell.
Do Turkey Eggs Taste Different Than Chicken Eggs?
Most people describe the taste of turkey eggs as similar to chicken eggs, perhaps with a slightly richer or creamier flavor.
The yolk color may differ too, with some turkey egg yolks being darker orange than chicken egg yolks.
When used in cooking and baking, turkey eggs can generally be substituted for chicken eggs without issue. You may need to adjust quantities slightly to account for the larger egg size.
Are Turkey Eggs More Nutritious Than Chicken Eggs?
Turkey eggs are highly nutritious, with a similar nutritional profile to chicken eggs.
Key nutrition facts per turkey egg:
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 10g
- Fat: 10g
- Iron: 3mg (18% DV)
- Vitamin A: 270IU (9% DV)
Due to their larger size, turkey eggs contain higher levels of nutrients than chicken eggs. But when compared proportionally per gram, the nutrition content is very similar between turkey and chicken eggs.
Both are excellent sources of protein, B vitamins, selenium, iodine and various minerals.
How Many Eggs Does a Turkey Hen Lay Per Year?
On average, a domestic turkey hen will lay around 100 eggs per year. By comparison, a prolific egg laying chicken can lay over 300 eggs annually.
Turkeys only begin laying eggs at around 28 weeks old, compared to just 16-20 weeks for chicken hens.
Once the turkey hen begins laying, she will produce eggs in intermittent clutches of around 8-15 eggs over 2-3 weeks. Then she will pause egg laying for a period of weeks before starting another clutch.
This on-off laying pattern reflects the turkey’s natural seasonal breeding cycle.
Can You Buy Turkey Eggs at the Grocery Store?
Turkey eggs are not as widely available to purchase as chicken eggs. However, you may find them seasonally at farmers markets, local turkey farms, or specialty gourmet grocery stores.
The high demand and limited supply means turkey eggs are usually significantly more expensive than chicken eggs. Expect to pay $3-6 for a dozen turkey eggs, compared to $2-4 per dozen for organic chicken eggs.
If you can’t source turkey eggs locally, many online stores ship fresh turkey eggs nationwide.
How to Cook With Turkey Eggs
Turkey eggs can be used in place of chicken eggs in any recipe. Their rich flavor takes well to baking applications like cakes, muffins and custards.
Some tips for cooking with turkey eggs:
-
Scramble, fry or poach them as you would chicken eggs. They may need a minute or two extra cooking time.
-
Adjust recipe quantities to allow for the extra volume. Often using one turkey egg replaces two chicken eggs.
-
Take care not to overbake dishes like quiche or custard, as the higher protein content can lead to drying.
-
Whipping turkey egg whites for meringues can be trickier due to their thicker albumen. Adding a pinch of cream of tartar helps stabilize them.
Can You Hatch Turkey Eggs?
Yes, absolutely. Turkey eggs can be incubated and hatched just like chicken eggs. The incubation period is slightly longer at 28 days for turkeys compared to 21 for chickens.
Letting a broody turkey hen sit on the eggs is the easiest method. Alternatively, a temperature controlled incubator will work well. Maintain the temperature at 99.5°F and humidity between 55-65% throughout incubation.
Hatching your own turkeys is immensely rewarding. And as we’ve seen, you can look forward to a rainbow of egg colors from your turkey flock!
So next time you come across a beautifully speckled egg, it just might be a turkey egg bringing some unique variety to your kitchen.
Turkey Egg Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts: Serving Size, 1 Egg
- Calories 135
- Calories from Fat 85
- Total Fat 9.39g 14%
- Saturated Fat 2.86g 14%
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.31g
- Monounsaturated Fat 3.61g
- Cholesterol 737mg 246%
- Sodium 119mg 5%
- Potassium 112mg
- Total Carbohydrate 0.91g
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Protein 10.81g
- Vitamin A 9%
- Vitamin C 0%
- Calcium 8%
- Iron 18%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs?
If the turkey egg tastes almost like a chicken egg, then why aren’t they eaten more often? That’s a good question and here are the answers:
- Egg Production. Turkeys lay eggs about 2 times per week.
- Size. Turkeys are much larger than chickens and have a larger space requirement.
- Intake. Because of their size, they eat more as well.
- Slow Maturity. Turkeys begin laying eggs 2 to 3 months later than a chicken.
- Expense. Because of the above four points, the expense to raise them is too much for egg production on a large scale.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs!
FAQ
How do you identify a turkey egg?
What color are heritage turkey eggs?
What time of year do turkeys lay eggs?
Are turkey eggs green?
What do turkey eggs taste like?
Turkey eggs taste a lot like rainbow sherbet….okay, I’m kidding but I got your attention. The real answer is not riveting as sherbet, but good to know. Turkey eggs taste like chicken eggs. Eggs of turkeys also have very similar nutritional value as chicken eggs. They do have more fat and calories than chicken eggs per gram.
What is the difference between turkey eggs and chicken eggs?
Moreover, turkey eggs have an average thickness of 0.44 mm, while chicken eggs are approximately 0.30 mm thick. Chicken eggs come in several colors, including white, cream, brown, and even blue. On the other hand, turkey egg colors are not as diverse. They are often cream or white with brown speckles.
What do turkey eggs look like?
Turkey eggs are usually a white to creamy white or peach color with pretty brown flecks and speckles. The color and number of speckles on each egg will be dependent on the hen who lays them. Some eggs will have a lot of speckles and some may only have a few. Do Turkeys Mate? Turkeys have a very lovely mating dance.
Are turkey eggs brown?
Turkey eggs are usually a white to creamy white or peach color with pretty brown flecks and speckles. The color and number of speckles on each egg will be dependent on the hen who lays them. Some eggs will have a lot of speckles and some may only have a few.