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 poultry bird raised on farms for their meat. However, turkeys also lay eggs, which leads many people to wonder – how often do turkeys lay eggs? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the egg-laying habits of turkeys.
When Do Turkeys Start Laying Eggs?
Turkeys start laying eggs later than chickens. A turkey hen usually begins laying eggs around 6-7 months of age. In comparison, a chicken starts laying eggs between 16-22 weeks or around 5 months of age.
So turkeys reach sexual maturity and start laying quite a bit later than chickens do
How Many Eggs Does A Turkey Lay Per Year?
On average a turkey will lay between 100-120 eggs per year. However, this can vary somewhat depending on the breed.
Heritage turkey breeds like Narragansett, Bourbon Red, and Standard Bronze lay 100-140 eggs per year.
Commercial turkey breeds like the Broad Breasted White may lay around 100 eggs annually.
So you can expect around 3 eggs per week or just over 100 eggs total each year from a turkey hen.
How Many Eggs Does A Turkey Lay Per Clutch?
Turkeys lay eggs in clutches or groups of eggs rather than individual eggs spread out over time.
A turkey hen will usually lay a clutch of 8-15 eggs before going broody. She will sit on the nest until the entire clutch hatches.
Then once the poults are a few weeks old, she may lay another smaller clutch of 3-5 eggs and repeat the process.
So turkeys tend to lay eggs in batchs rather than consistently like chickens do.
How Often Does A Turkey Lay An Egg?
When a turkey is in a laying cycle, she will lay an egg every 1-2 days.
Turkeys don’t lay an egg every single day. Instead, it’s more common for a turkey to lay an egg every other day when she is actively laying.
Some people report turkeys laying up to 6-7 eggs in a week during peak production. But laying an egg daily is less common in turkeys compared to chickens.
Do Turkeys Lay Eggs All Year?
No, turkeys are seasonal egg layers for the most part. Turkeys generally lay eggs in the spring and may continue laying into early summer. But they rarely lay year-round.
The main laying season for turkeys is April-June. This coincides with the turkeys’ natural breeding season.
Egg production will taper off in the summer and turkeys normally stop laying altogether by late fall and winter.
Although some heritage breeds may occasionally lay sporadic eggs outside of spring if conditions are right.
What Time Of Day Do Turkeys Lay Eggs?
Just like chickens, turkeys like to lay their eggs first thing in the morning. You can expect to find fresh turkey eggs early in the morning when checking the nests.
Turkeys may continue to lay intermittently through the first part of the day as well. But late afternoon or evening egg laying is uncommon in turkeys.
So if you are collecting turkey eggs or want the freshest eggs, be sure to gather them in the morning.
Do Turkeys Lay Eggs Without A Male?
Yes, turkeys can and will lay eggs without a tom present. The eggs will be infertile so they can’t hatch. But hens will still lay eggs naturally in the springtime without being bred by a male.
However, the presence of a male can sometimes stimulate more frequent egg laying. So you may get slightly more eggs with a tom around. But a male is not essential for a turkey hen to lay.
WhatFactors Influence Turkey Egg Production?
There are a few key factors that impact how many eggs a turkey lays:
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Breed– Heritage breeds lay more eggs than commercial turkey breeds. Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, and Narragansett lay the most eggs.
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Age – Older turkey hens lay fewer eggs than younger birds. Peak laying is at 1-3 years old.
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Photoperiod – The amount of daylight stimulates laying in spring/summer. Providing 14-16 hours of light can extend their laying season.
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Diet – A nutritious diet with ample calcium supports more frequent egg production.
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Overall Health – Disease, parasites, stress, etc. can all decrease turkey egg laying.
So breed, age, lighting conditions, nutrition, and health status all impact the number of eggs a turkey will lay.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs?
Even though they lay eggs, most turkey eggs are used for hatching poults rather than eating. A few reasons turkey eggs aren’t commonly eaten:
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Lower egg production – Turkeys only lay 100-120 eggs annually versus 300 eggs from chickens.
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Longer time to maturity – Turkeys don’t start laying until 7 months old versus 5 months for chickens.
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Larger space requirements – Turkeys need more space and food than chickens, making eggs more expensive to produce.
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Unfamiliarity – Consumers are simply more familiar with chicken eggs.
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Fertile eggs more valuable – Turkey poults sell for a higher price than fresh eggs.
So farmers focus on hatching poults rather than harvesting turkey eggs for consumption. But turkey eggs can certainly be eaten if desired.
Do Turkeys Stop Laying Eggs As They Age?
Yes, as turkey hens get older their egg production gradually declines.
Peak laying is typically from age 1-4 years old. After age 4-5, the number of eggs laid starts to decrease each year as the bird ages.
Most turkeys continue laying eggs annually until around 5-7 years old depending on the breed. After age 7, egg laying becomes infrequent.
Egg laying may stop altogether around age 10+ as the turkey reaches the end of her productive lifespan.
In Summary:
- Turkeys start laying at 6-7 months old
- They lay 100-140 eggs per year
- Turkeys lay in clutches of 8-15 eggs
- During peak production they lay 1 egg every 1-2 days
- Turkeys mainly lay eggs April-June
- Egg laying declines as turkeys age over 5-7 years old
So while turkeys may not lay as frequently as chickens do, they can still provide a supplemental source of eggs on small farms during the spring season. With proper care and lighting, turkeys will reward their keepers with ample large, rich-flavored eggs for the family table.
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.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs!
FAQ
What months do turkeys lay eggs?
- South: In the South, turkeys typically start breeding in late winter and nest in April, May, and June.
- Florida: Florida wild turkeys start breeding in mid-February, and lay eggs in March and April.
- Rio Grande: Rio Grande turkeys start mating in March and nest in late April.
Do turkeys sit on their eggs constantly?
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.
How long do baby turkeys stay with their mother?
- Poults are active as soon as they hatch, but they are vulnerable to predators and cold weather.
- Mother turkeys are careful parents who provide for their young.
- Poults panic if separated from their mother. They raise themselves up, cluck, listen, and yell for their mother.
- Poults learn from each other and from older, more experienced birds.
- They also learn the layout of their home ranges and where to find food.
How many times does a wild turkey lay eggs in a year?
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)! The hen lays only one egg each day, so if she lays 14 eggs it takes two full weeks to lay the entire clutch.
How often do turkeys lay eggs?
Like all birds, turkeys lay eggs, but they don’t lay as frequently, or begin laying as early as a chicken. Chickens can lay around 300 eggs a year to a turkey’s 100, and while chickens begin laying after approximately 5 months, turkeys begin later, at around 7 months old.
How many eggs can a three year old eat at once?
The recommendation for the general population is that you can consume one egg per day. This includes children as young as 3 years old. The amounts of protein must be sufficient to ensure growth and development, but not excessive so as not to cause kidney damage.
Can turkeys lay eggs?
High-quality turkey feeds for laying hens can help maintain optimal egg production levels. Additionally, ensuring access to clean water is critical, as dehydration can disrupt egg production. Proper nutrition and hydration can help turkeys lay eggs more consistently and improve the overall quality of the eggs.
How many eggs does a turkey hen lay?
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. How many eggs can a turkey brood?
When do turkeys start laying eggs?
Turkeys start laying eggs at about seven months old. During the breeding season, a turkey will lay about a dozen for its clutch, but a younger hen might have fewer eggs. A few farmers keep turkeys for their eggs, so they will not have a chance to mate and fertilize their eggs.
How long does it take a wild turkey to lay eggs?
Lifecycle of a wild turkey 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