Quail, Chicken, Duck? All Good – But What About Turkeys?
We eat eggs from chickens, ducks, and even quails, but turkey eggs?
Not so much. Why is there an invisible line drawn when it comes to turkey eggs? Let’s find out.
How Often Do Turkeys Lay Eggs?
In the wild, a turkey hen builds a ground nest in a sheltered area, laying eggs every 24 to 32 hours over a two-week period.
This typically results in a clutch of 9 to 13 eggs, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
During this time, the mother turkey leaves the nest to feed but always returns to incubate her eggs.
But for egg farmers, this laying pattern just isn’t efficient enough to make turkey eggs a profitable option.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs?
The United States has around 2,500 turkey farms, meaning there are plenty of turkeys—and plenty of eggs.
So why aren’t turkey eggs a common breakfast staple? The answer comes down to efficiency and cost.
1. Turkeys Lay Fewer Eggs
Compared to chickens, turkeys just aren’t great egg producers.
A chicken can lay nearly one egg per day, while a turkey’s 32-hour cycle means they lay much less frequently.
2. Turkeys Take Longer to Mature
Turkeys also take longer to reach the egg-laying stage—about seven months compared to a chicken’s five months.
This longer development time makes them less appealing for egg farming.
3. Turkeys Require More Space and Food
Turkeys are huge birds that need more room and food compared to chickens. More space + more food = higher costs.
Simply put, raising turkeys for eggs isn’t financially practical.
Are Turkey Eggs Edible?
Yes! Turkey eggs are completely edible and taste similar to chicken eggs. According to Modern Farm, they’re just a bit larger, with a tougher shell and thicker membrane.
Some turkey farmers even enjoy them, but they rarely make it to grocery store shelves because of the high costs of farming turkeys for eggs.
The Weird World of Eggs
While turkey eggs may seem rare, they’re still pretty normal compared to some truly bizarre eggs—like penguin eggs.
Penguin Eggs – A Strange Alternative
According to Robert Headland of the Scott Polar Research Institute, penguin eggs have a fishy taste due to their krill-rich diet.
But, surprisingly, they make excellent pavlova!
When boiled, penguin eggs look completely different from chicken eggs. Instead of a solid white and yellow inside, they have a ghostly translucent white and a bright orange yolk.
This happens because penguin eggs contain more penalbumin, a protein that helps them withstand extreme cold, according to the Polar Guidebook.
Would You Try a Turkey Egg?
At the end of the day, turkey eggs are edible, tasty, and nutritious, but farming them just isn’t practical.
With all this talk about unusual eggs, we might just stick to chocolate eggs instead!