Turkeys are poultry birds reared all over the world for food.
There are wild turkeys which roam, and domesticated birds which are found on different farms across the world.
Do turkeys lays eggs? Just like most poultry birds, turkeys do lay eggs. Though not all that popular, turkey eggs are quite edible and nutritious. They are similar to chicken eggs in taste and fully packed with various nutrients.
In case you rear poultry birds for their eggs and you are looking for an addition to ducks and chickens on your farm, you can try out turkeys.
Do turkeys lay eggs without a male?
Yes, female turkeys lay eggs without males.
In fact, this isn’t an unusual occurrence. If you rear chickens and ducks, then you know they do the same all the time.
You should note however that eggs layed by turkeys without mating with a male are not fertile.
They can be eaten and used for all kinds of cooking as they are quite nutritious, but they won’t hatch even if they placed in an incubator or an hen sits on it.
If you have toms around your hens however, you are most likely to get fertile eggs often, especially during the matin season.
Are turkey eggs healthier than chicken’s?
It is hard to say turkeys’ eggs are healthier than chickens’.
In general though, turkey eggs contain lots of benefits for the human body.
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.
Turkey eggs are bigger than chicken eggs. They are usually about 50% bigger, which means it contains nutrients in more quantities than the chicken’s.
It has more protein, more fat, more calories and more cholesterol.
While this can be good, consuming more fat and calories can lead to obesity.
So the extra nutrients might not mean it is healthier.
The extra protein gotten from it isn’t bad however, and it is quite helpful for those that may want to gain weight.
Related: Can wild turkeys fly?
Do turkeys lay eggs all year round?
Yes, turkeys can and do lay eggs all year round.
Generally, turkeys lay in seasons.
It means they have a specific time or season they lay in a year and are supposed to stick to it.
This is usually during the spring, between April and November.
We have discovered however that most turkeys don’t fit this pattern.
If fed well, given enough lighting and adequate care, turkeys can lay all year round, laying at least two eggs per week without fail.
Turkeys usually lay a clutch of eggs and then go broody, if their eggs are picked everyday however and the turkeys are not allowed to nest, they will continue to lay eggs every week without going broody.
So if you rear turkeys specifically for their eggs and not to reproduce, you should avoid keeping them with the toms, so they won’t lay fertile eggs and go broody.
How long after mating do turkeys lay eggs?
After mating, a turkey hen begins to lay fertile eggs until her clutch is full and they start immediately after mating.
They don’t need to wait a few days or weeks.
After a successful mating, the hen can lay fertile eggs starting from the next day usually.
The number of eggs in a clutch depends on the turkey.
A clutch of eggs could be between 6 and 17 eggs.
After laying this clutch, the turkey goes broody and sits on the eggs for about 28 days.
Turkeys can lay fertile eggs for up to 3 weeks depending on how long it takes the hen to finish laying it’s clutch.
A single mating is enough to fertilize all the eggs.
Want to know how to rear turkeys? Here is my comprehensive guide on how to raise turkeys.
How many eggs does a turkey lay before she sits on them?
Depending on the size of the turkey, a turkey could lay between 9 and 13 egss before sitting on them.
A bigger turkey could even lay more.
It takes female turkeys about two weeks to completely lay the eggs in their clutch after which they will sit on it for a period of 26-28 days.
The hen will hardly leave its nest, during this period, except to look for food once in a while.
You should ensure that it eats very well during this period and has everything it needs to have a comfortable incubation period.
Conclusion.
Turkeys do not lay as often as chickens do but they do lay eggs, and their eggs are quite edible and nutritious.
Turkeys can also lay eggs with or without a male.
When turkeys lay eggs without a male however, they are not fertile and cannot be incubated. They can only be eaten and used to prepare food.
Turkey eggs are bigger than chicken’s and contain nutrients in more quantities.
The extra cholesterol and fat it contains however may not necessarily mean it is healthier.
Turkeys can lay all year round but in few quantities.
They lay just two or three eggs a week which is few compared to chickens that lay everyday.
Once turkeys mate, they begin to lay fertile eggs which can be between 9 and 13 eggs or even more, and they do not sit on them until they have finished laying the clutch.
They then sit for a period of 28 days till the eggs hatch.
