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 for both their meat and eggs. But unlike chickens which lay eggs almost daily, turkeys have a much lower egg laying frequency. So how often do turkeys lay eggs?
The egg laying habits of turkeys are quite different from chickens. On average, a healthy turkey hen lays an egg once every 2-3 days. This works out to around 100-130 eggs per year.
In comparison, a prolific egg laying chicken can produce 200-300 eggs annually. The lower egg production of turkeys can be attributed to several factors:
Turkeys Reach Laying Maturity Later
Turkeys don’t start laying eggs until 6-7 months of age Chicken hens begin laying much sooner at around 18-22 weeks or 5 months old, This gives chickens a head start on egg production,
Longer Egg Laying Cycle
Once a turkey hen reaches laying maturity, she only drops eggs around 2-3 times per week. Chickens have a much shorter laying cycle allowing them to lay 5-6 days a week.
Shorter Laying Season
Turkeys generally only lay eggs from March-July during the spring/early summer, The decreased daylight hours outside of spring suppress a turkey’s egg production Chickens will lay year-round as long as lighting is sufficient
Breed Differences
Some heritage turkey breeds like Bourbon Reds may lay more consistently than commercial turkey breeds like Broad Breasted Whites. But even prolific laying turkey breeds don’t match the output of egg laying chicken breeds.
Age Impacts Production
As turkey hens get older beyond their first couple laying seasons, egg frequency declines. The peak laying period is usually the first two spring seasons. By three years old, egg production drops off significantly.
Nesting Habits
Once a turkey has laid a full clutch of 9-13 eggs in her nest, she will stop laying and begin incubating. This built in “down time” limits a turkey’s total eggs compared to chickens that lay continually as eggs are collected.
Lighting Requirements
Turkeys require 14-16 hours of daylight to stimulate egg production. Reduced daylight hours during fall and winter slow down a turkey’s laying cycle. Supplemental lighting can help maintain some production.
Feed Quality
Like chickens, turkeys need quality feed with sufficient protein, calories, calcium and nutrients to lay eggs consistently. Poor nutrition will reduce egg frequency.
Stress Factors
Heat stress, overcrowding, relocation and other stressors can cause a turkey to stop laying eggs for a period of time until conditions improve.
Health Issues
Sickness, parasites and reproductive issues can all halt egg laying in turkeys. Any health problems should be addressed quickly to get egg frequency back to normal.
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?
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SouthMale turkeys start breeding in late winter, and nesting occurs in April, May, and June.
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FloridaTurkeys gobble during warm spells in January, and lay eggs mainly in March and April.
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Rio GrandeMating activities start in March, and nesting is high near the end of April.
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Rocky MountainMerriam’s wild turkeys breed in mid-March and 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?
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Social developmentTurkeys start developing social skills before hatching, and their relationship with their mother is critical to their survival.
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LearningTurkeys learn from each other and from older birds, and they remember the location of food and their home ranges.
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PredatorsPredators like hawks and foxes hunt young turkeys, and cold spring rains can make them vulnerable.
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FlockingHen turkeys live in flocks with their female offspring, and several hens and their broods may combine flocks.
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Raising in captivityIn commercial food production, turkeys hatch in incubators and never know their mother.
Do turkeys lay eggs without a male?
- Parthenogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction that allows animals to reproduce without finding a mate.
- Asexual reproduction is quicker and uses less energy than sexual reproduction.
- This process allows a species to continue when there is no available mate.
- In turkeys, parthenogenesis can result in the development of baby turkeys that are always male.
How many eggs can a turkey lay a year?
On average, a healthy chicken can lay up to 300 eggs per year, while a turkey will only lay around 100 eggs annually. There are a few reasons for turkeys’ lower egg production: Slower to mature Turkeys don’t begin laying eggs until 28 weeks of age versus 20 weeks for chickens. This gives chickens a big head start on egg production.
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.
When do turkeys lay eggs?
A turkey hen usually starts to lay eggs at around seven months. In contrast, chickens begin laying eggs between 18 and 22 weeks, or about five months. In this article, we’ll explain when turkeys lay eggs and tell you everything you need to know about turkey eggs. When Do Turkeys Lay Eggs in Their Lifetime?
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 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
Do turkeys need a male to lay eggs?
Yes, turkeys do not need a male to lay eggs. Nonetheless, these unfertilized eggs will not produce any offspring and are typically sold. This is often the case among poultry farmers keeping turkeys for eggs to sell or eat rather than aiming to increase their flocks.