Just like other poultry birds, they do lay eggs. How long do turkeys stay with their mother? That's because a clutch of eggs from a turkey are way harder to produce than chicken eggs. You only need one turkey egg to get what youd get from two or even three chicken eggs! This is useful because turkey flocks oftencover a lot of ground in a day while foraging, and the poults have to keep up with mother hen as she leads them thorough her territory in search of food and while avoiding predators. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided on this website and any material available from it is accurate. But, its worth pointing out that the environment and experience matter. The number of eggs in a clutch depends on the turkey. Some breeds like the wild turkey can lay a clutch of 10 to 14 eggs, while the ocellated turkey can lay 8 to 15 eggs. These predators eat everything from the egg of the turkey to an adult bird. Mostly, they lay their eggs in safe enclosures and can hatch up to 17 eggs per a clutch of 18 eggs. First, turkeys are great foragers and can help control pests and weeds in the yard. And four weeks later the eggs hatch. A fertile turkey will produce around 2 eggs per hour. (Photo: Henry Zeman), Wild Turkey Toms. It means she will require 14 days or 2 weeks to complete laying her clutch. While many domesticated turkeys will lay their eggs in nests during the day, some wild turkeys will actually sit on their eggs at night. Human-animal conflicts have existed for centuries. If it is breeding season and you see a turkey sitting in the same spot all the time, it is probably on a nest. Let's spend some time together and learn about gardening, animals, and life on a farm! Turkeys usually lay eggs in the morning and early afternoon, with eggs more often being laid in the morning rather than later in the day. Hopefully, this article has answered more than how many eggs turkeys lay and piqued your curiosity about turkeys. Chickens typically lay double that about five to six eggs per week. Loss of habitat to create settlement leaves the wild bird with no place to call home. As mentioned, turkeys begin to lay eggs at around seven months. We would appreciate your donation to support our continued efforts to advance land conservation, education, advocacy and forestry and recreation across the state and beyond. Turkeys are an agricultural bird that typically lives for around 10 years. Each breed lays a certain number of eggs. Is this a slipped tendon in limping chick or something else? There are both wild and domesticated turkeys today. When turkeys lay eggs without a male however, they are not fertile and cannot be incubated. Sam is an outdoor enthusiast, who loves spending time in the garden and learning about animals. The number of eggs a turkey hen lays depends on many factors, including her age, health, and the time of year. It is a moderately good layer, producing about 3u20134 medium-sized eggs/week. That also depends on her health condition and several other factors. They are omnivorous and will eat anything they can find, including insects and seeds. (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023). Turkeys are an integral part of American culture, particularly during the Thanksgiving holiday, and its the Broad Breasted White Turkey that makes it all possible. Notably, a turkey egg contains more than twice as much cholesterol (933 milligrams vs. 372 milligrams) as a chicken egg. After the mating season, Toms and younger Jakes retreat to a separate males-only flock, wandering around separate from the hens. Overall, keeping turkeys can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for backyard farmers. They have a strong digestive system and can digest large amounts of different types of food. According to the National Turkey Federation, the U.S. produced more than 233 million turkeys last year. How many eggs do turkeys lay in a season? Some say they have a heartier and creamier taste than a chicken egg, and some even prefer turkey eggs. Turkeys do not lay as often as chickens do but they do lay eggs, and their eggs are quite edible and nutritious. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It is worth noting that wild and domesticated turkeys have different life expectancies. A female can abandon a nest early because of imminent danger in the area. Synchronous Hatching A turkey hen lays one clutch of eggs per year, these clutches can as small as four to as large as 17 eggs per nest (that's a big clutch and that's cool fact #1)! However, toms, or male turkeys, are required for the eggs to fertilize. Occasionally, the female turkey will stand up to stretch her legs, excrete, eat and drink before resuming her position. 15) How many feathers a turkey have covered its body? How Many Eggs Do Narragansett Turkeys Lay? However, each of them only lays one clutch of eggs per year. How many eggs does a turkey lay per year? The hen lays only one egg each day, so if she lays 14 eggs it takes two full weeks to lay the entire clutch. In rare instances, some people find that their turkeys are outliers and begin to lay eggs close to year-round. Narragansett Turkeys can lay anywhere between 50 and 100 eggs. Download the Forest Society Mobile App, powered by OuterSpatial, After breeding, male Toms are hunted while females hens lay eggs and then tend broods of poults. Turkey Eggs are good to eat. At this point, she will stay away from the rest of the flock and isolate herself. However, the most common reason why people believe it is unsafe to eat a rooster is because they believe that their blood contains harmful substances. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different. The average number of eggs laid per clutch is five. Turkeys lay fewer eggs than chickens, who, on average, lay five to six eggs per week. Its not easy to protect a nest in such a setting when so many predators are around. They have a small, curved beak, and their heads and necks are adorned with a brilliant red color. Mother turkeys raise their heads high to scan for predators, so their nest must have clear sight lines. How Long Does A Turkey Egg Take To Hatch. Learning all of this new information about turkey eggs might have you wondering: why dont we eat turkey eggs? How Long Do Baby Turkeys Remain with Their Mothers? How many eggs does a turkey hen lay in a year? Guinea eggs are entirely edible and very rich in flavor and texturein a delicious way! A goose egg has 1227mg of cholesterol which is >400% of the RDA. Another difference is that chicken eggs are only solid colors such as white, brown, and blue. Sam is an outdoor enthusiast, who loves spending time in the garden and learning about animals. Are turkey eggs healthier than chicken's? But if you continue to take their eggs, they will continue to lay them. Turkey eggs are bigger than chicken eggs. Everywhere you look, there are a lot of turkeys. First, turkeys dont produce eggs until about seven months, meaning you need to feed them during that time. These creatures can typically lay their eggs during specific seasons. But the fact remains, unless you hunt turkey, you probably dont think about them as much in the springtime. Turkey eggs are a popular choice for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. For the first 3-4 years, you can expect an egg every day. The average number of eggs laid by a hen before she sits on them is typically 12 eggs. Table egg layers had an average lay rate of about 0.81 eggs per day in 2019, whereas broiler-type layers averaged only 0.61 eggs per day. Turkeys can and do lay eggs throughout the year. Hello everyone and welcome to the blog. These birds can be found out in the wild but are nowadays domesticated. However, where the Giant really stands out is in meat production. Narragansett turkeys were once a common sight on farms across the United States, but their popularity waned in the early 20th century as commercial turkey breeds became more popular. A mature female turkey can lay from 8 to 15 eggs in a single clutch. These are some examples: Survival of the fittest is the rule in the wild. At this time, mating activities are high and the male turkeys put on splendid displays and fights. So if youre looking for the best time of day to grab fresh eggs from your turkeys, mornings are it. She lays the next egg, then gets up and returns to the flock. In the spring, hens typically lay clutches of eggs in nests that they spend time preparing. Among them, the Bourbon Red comes out as the one that lays the most eggs. The hen lays only one egg each day, so if she lays 14 eggs it takes two full weeks to lay the entire clutch. There are free-roaming wild turkeys and domesticated birds found on farms all over the world. If you plan on eating your turkey eggs right away, its best to store them in the fridge overnight so they reach room temperature before serving. The Turkey Nesting Process Before turkeys lay eggs, they need to find a mate and build a nest. Laying rates also vary depending on the diet of the turkey; hens that are fed primarily grain will typically lay fewer eggs than those who get their diet from bugs or worms. Theyre fantastic mothers and we have to admire these birds tenacity. The extra cholesterol and fat it contains however may not necessarily mean it is healthier. How many times do turkeys lay eggs in a year? It means she will take much longer to complete laying a clutch of eggs. It is unclear how many of those chickens are egg-laying hens. An average turkey breeder female will lay 100-130 eggs per laying cycle. Being active outdoors is my thing! Turkeys have very many natural predators that wouldnt hesitate to kill even a mature male turkey. Terms of Service. Theyre old enough to fend for themselves by this point. Many people believe that they are not good for you because of the high amount of cholesterol and saturated fat that they contain. The moment a female turkey is old enough to lay eggs, she starts preparing a nest. In fact, some experts believe that turkeys may actually prefer nesting in trees because it provides them with a safe place to roost and raise their young. Quails lay eggs almost daily, they can lay about 300 eggs yearly. Turkeys have a plethora of natural predators who would gladly kill even a mature male turkey. Some turkey hens only lay eggs once a year up to 100 eggs per year if the conditions are favorable. Synchronous Hatching A turkey hen lays one clutch of eggs per year, these clutches can as small as four to as large as 17 eggs per nest (that's a big clutch and that's cool fact #1 )! A turkey hen lays one clutch of eggs per year, these clutches can as small as four to as large as 17 eggs per nest (that's a big clutch and that's cool fact #1)! A turkey hen lays fewer eggs, only about two or three eggs per week. How many times do turkeys lay eggs in a year? After about three years, you can expect a steady drop off in production. Goulds gobbling activity has been documented to begin in April and May in Mexico, and from late April to June in New Mexico and Mexico. After laying this clutch, the turkey goes broody and sits on the eggs for about 28 days. When fed, the graceful creatures make excellent layers. The chicks will start sleeping in the nest around this time, and will fledge by mid-May. Wild female turkeys usually wait until the warmer months, around March or April, to start laying their eggs when mating season is at its height. When the female completes laying the eggs, she goes broody and sits on them. The turkey breed varies greatly in their time of breeding. Turkey eggs are quite expensive as a single turkey egg costs about three dollars. Lets find out. They are typically laid between February and April. By this time, they're old enough to fend for themselves. Can turkey lay egg without mating? However, just because you cant find turkey eggs in the grocery store doesnt mean youll never get to try one. Their distinctive coloration comes from a grayish-blue slate color, which gives them a regal and elegant look. They are packed with nutrients, minerals and vitamins that help maintain our immune system, give a clear skin and help in the formation of blood. Knowing this, you may wonder why we dont eat other varieties of eggs as often, such as turkey eggs. They are named after the Narragansett Bay area, where they were first developed by crossing domestic turkeys imported from Europe with wild turkeys native to North America. And we know that turkey eggs taste similar to chicken eggs.