Last updated: October 2026
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Yes, turkey eggs are edible, and they taste very much like chicken eggs, just bigger and richer. A turkey egg is roughly half again the size of a large chicken egg, with a creamy, speckled shell and a larger yolk. You rarely see them in stores because turkey hens lay far fewer eggs than laying hens, start later in life and lay mostly in spring and summer.
This guide covers what small farms and homesteads need to know: when turkeys lay and how many eggs to expect, how turkey eggs compare with chicken eggs, how to collect and store them safely, how to hatch them, and how to look after laying hens.
Key takeaways
- Edible and safe when handled and cooked like chicken eggs: refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below and cook until the white and yolk are firm.
- Laying is seasonal: most hens start in their first spring and lay for about six months, often around 100 eggs in the first year.
- Bigger than chicken eggs: about 2.8–3.5 oz (80–100 g), with a cream to tan, speckled shell.
- Hatching takes about 28 days at around 100°F (37.8°C), with turning stopped on day 25.
In this guide
Turkey Eggs vs Chicken Eggs
Side by side, the difference is obvious. Turkey eggs are longer, more pointed and heavier, and the shell is usually cream or light tan covered in brown speckles. Inside, the yolk takes up a bigger share of the egg, which is why many people describe the flavor as slightly richer.
| Turkey egg | Chicken egg | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical weight | About 2.8–3.5 oz (80–100 g) | About 2 oz (50–57 g) for a large egg |
| Shell | Cream to light tan with brown speckles, thicker | White, brown, blue or green depending on breed |
| Eggs per hen per year | Often around 100 in the first year | Often 250+ for high-production laying breeds |
| Laying season | Mostly spring through fall | Most of the year, slowing in winter |
| Energy (per 100 g, raw) | About 171 kcal | About 143 kcal |
| Protein (per 100 g, raw) | About 13.7 g | About 12.6 g |
| Cholesterol (per 100 g, raw) | About 933 mg | About 372 mg |
| Incubation | About 28 days | About 21 days |
The nutrition figures come from USDA nutrient data (Standard Reference). Gram for gram, turkey eggs carry a little more fat and protein and considerably more cholesterol than chicken eggs, so treat them as an occasional, richer egg rather than a direct swap if you’re watching cholesterol.
When Do Turkeys Start Laying Eggs?
Turkey hens usually begin laying in the spring after they hatch. A poult hatched in late spring or summer typically starts laying the following spring, at around 10 to 11 months old. Lengthening days trigger laying, so the season runs from spring into late summer or fall, roughly six months in total.
In the Southern Hemisphere the calendar flips: expect laying to start in early spring, around September or October, and taper off in autumn.
Signs a hen is about to start include more time spent investigating corners and dark, sheltered spots, squatting when you reach toward her, and a redder, brighter head. Many hens pick their own nest in long grass or under a bush if you don’t give them a good spot first.
How Many Eggs Does a Turkey Lay?
Expect far fewer eggs than from chickens. Most backyard turkey hens lay around 100 eggs in their first year, and a strong layer may reach about 120. Production drops after the first couple of years.
Broodiness makes a big difference. A hen that goes broody stops laying while she sits. She may lay a few dozen eggs in spring, sit on a clutch, then lay several dozen more later in the summer. If you want eggs for the kitchen rather than poults, collect eggs daily so she’s less likely to settle into sitting.
Heritage breeds such as Bourbon Red, Narragansett and Bronze can raise their own young. Commercial Broad Breasted turkeys generally can’t mate naturally because of their size, so their eggs won’t be fertile without artificial insemination. If you’re still deciding on birds, our guide to whether turkeys can fly covers another big difference between heritage and broad-breasted types.
Can You Eat Turkey Eggs?
Yes. Turkey eggs can be scrambled, fried, boiled or baked just like chicken eggs. Because they’re larger, one turkey egg roughly replaces one and a half large chicken eggs in recipes, so weigh them if you’re baking something that depends on exact ratios.
Handle them the same way you would any farm egg. The USDA advises keeping eggs refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below and cooking them until both the white and the yolk are firm. Egg dishes such as casseroles and quiches should reach 160°F (71°C) in the center.
Why don’t stores sell turkey eggs?
It comes down to numbers. A turkey hen starts laying months later than a laying-breed chicken, lays far fewer eggs in a shorter season and needs more feed and space because she’s a much bigger bird. On commercial turkey farms, eggs are far more valuable hatched into poults for meat production than sold for eating. That’s why turkey eggs mostly turn up at farmers’ markets or from small farms.
Watch: Why we don’t eat more turkey eggs
This short video from a well-known backyard poultry channel looks at why turkey eggs are so hard to find.
Collecting and Storing Turkey Eggs
- Give hens a proper nest. Offer roomy, dim, sheltered nest boxes or covered corners with clean bedding, bigger than chicken nests. Hens that like their nest are less likely to hide eggs in the grass.
- Collect at least once a day. Daily collection keeps eggs clean, limits cracks and discourages broodiness.
- Keep them clean without washing. Brush off light dirt with a dry cloth. The USDA advises against washing eggs at home because water can be drawn through the shell’s pores. Set badly soiled eggs aside for use soon, cooked thoroughly.
- Refrigerate eating eggs promptly at 40°F (4°C) or below, in a carton on an inside shelf rather than the door. Large turkey eggs may need a deeper carton or an egg tray.
- Store hatching eggs differently. Keep them pointed end down in a cool room, not the fridge, and set them in the incubator within about a week for the best hatch.
Pro tip: Mark the date on each egg with a soft pencil as you collect it. It makes rotation easy in the kitchen and helps you pick the freshest eggs for hatching.
How to Hatch Turkey Eggs
You need fertile eggs from a hen that runs with a tom. You can hatch them under a broody turkey hen, which is often the easiest way with heritage birds, or in an incubator.
| Incubator setting | Turkey eggs |
|---|---|
| Incubation time | About 28 days (27–29) |
| Temperature | About 100°F (37.8°C); follow your incubator’s manual for still-air models |
| Humidity, days 1–25 | 45–55% |
| Stop turning | Day 25 |
| Humidity for hatching (lockdown) | 55–65% |
Turn eggs several times a day until day 25 if your incubator doesn’t do it automatically. Candle them after the first week or so with an egg candler and remove any that are clear or cloudy, since bad eggs can spoil and contaminate the others. Thick, speckled turkey shells are harder to see through than chicken shells, so candle in a completely dark room.
Once the poults hatch and dry off, move them to a warm brooder with turkey or game bird starter feed. Poults need more protein than chicks, so our guide to what turkeys eat walks through starter, grower and adult rations.
Caring for Laying Turkey Hens
- Feed a balanced ration. Laying hens need a complete feed formulated for breeding or laying turkeys or game birds. Offer oyster shell free choice for extra calcium to keep shells strong.
- Provide clean water at all times. Egg production drops quickly if water runs out or freezes.
- Protect them from predators. Hens sitting on hidden ground nests are easy targets. Lock birds in at night and give them a secure nesting area.
- Watch the hens’ backs. Toms can tear a hen’s back skin during mating. Canvas “saddles” or aprons protect hens in a breeding group.
- Keep the flock calm. Stress, sudden changes and crowding can stop laying for days.
Cracked or dirty eggs? Don’t eat eggs with cracked shells or eggs you find in a hidden nest when you don’t know how long they’ve been there. Compost them or discard them instead.
Turkeys aren’t the only option for a small egg flock. If you mainly want eggs for the kitchen, quail and chickens lay far more eggs for the space and feed they need. And if you’re curious, here’s what a group of turkeys is called.
Helpful gear for this guide
Handy picks that match the advice above.
Links go to Amazon. Prices and availability change, so check reviews and fit for your setup before buying.
Quick Reference
Save this chart for laying season:
FAQ
What do turkey eggs taste like?
Very similar to chicken eggs. Because the yolk is a larger share of the egg, many people find them a little creamier and richer.
How big is a turkey egg?
Usually about 2.8–3.5 oz (80–100 g), roughly half again the size of a large chicken egg.
How long does it take turkey eggs to hatch?
About 28 days in an incubator or under a broody hen. Stop turning the eggs on day 25 and raise the humidity for hatching.
What time of year do turkeys lay eggs?
Mostly from spring into late summer or fall, about six months a year. In the Southern Hemisphere that’s roughly September through March.
Can you eat fertilized turkey eggs?
Yes. A fertile egg that’s collected daily and refrigerated looks and tastes the same as an infertile one. Refrigeration stops any development.
Do turkeys lay eggs without a male?
Yes. Hens lay eggs whether or not a tom is present. You only need a tom if you want fertile eggs to hatch.
Sources
- What to Expect When Raising Turkeys (Murray McMurray Hatchery)
- Incubation Temperature and Humidity Chart (NC State Extension Poultry 4-H)
- Shell Eggs from Farm to Table (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)
This guide is general information. For sick birds or hatching problems, talk to a poultry vet or your local extension office.
