For many of us, chicken eggs are a dietary staple. But have you ever cracked open a turkey egg? With over 240 million turkeys raised in the U.S. annually, there are plenty around – yet their eggs remain a mystery to most.
So what do turkey eggs look like compared to familiar chicken eggs? Let’s find out!
Turkey Eggs are Much Larger
The most noticeable difference is size. On average, turkey eggs are about 2-2.7 inches long and weigh 66-110 grams. That’s around 50% bigger than a typical chicken egg at 2 inches and 50 grams. Some heritage turkey breeds lay eggs nearing 3 inches and 120 grams – more than double a chicken egg!
So if you’re used to chicken eggs, a turkey egg can look gigantic in comparison. The greater size also makes the shell thicker and harder to crack open.
More Color Variation in Shells
While chicken eggs generally have white shells, turkey eggs come in a wider range of shell colors:
- White
- Cream
- Light brown
- Dark brown
- Speckled
The speckled pattern tends to be more prominent in turkey eggs compared to chickens Wild turkeys usually lay speckled eggs to provide camouflage from predators Some domestic breeds like the Black Spanish turkey produce very dark chocolate-colored eggs.
Pointier Shape on One End
Chicken eggs tend to be symmetrical ovals with a rounded end. Turkey eggs have a noticeably sharper, pointier shape on one end compared to the other. This tapered end allows the egg to fit better into the turkey’s nest. So a cone-shaped end indicates a turkey egg.
Subtly Richer Taste
When it comes to taste turkey eggs are quite similar to chicken eggs. However some detect a subtly richer, almost creamier flavor in turkey eggs. The yolk also tends to be a bit larger compared to chickens. And the whites are slightly more gelatinous in texture.
People often use turkey eggs as a substitute for chicken eggs in cooking. You may need to adjust the quantity due to their size. But the overall taste is familiar if you’re used to regular eggs.
Higher Nutrient Content
Thanks to their greater size, turkey eggs pack more nutritional punch than chicken eggs:
- Protein – Chicken: 6g; Turkey: 10g
- Riboflavin – Chicken: 0.26 mg; Turkey: 0.4mg
- Folate – Chicken: 22mcg; Turkey: 34mcg
- Fat – Chicken: 5g; Turkey: 9.5g
- Calories – Chicken: 72; Turkey: 120
So turkey eggs provide around 50% higher protein, vitamins, fat and calories compared to chicken eggs. You’d only need one turkey egg to get the nutrients of two chicken eggs.
Why Turkey Eggs Are Less Common
Despite their merits, there are reasons turkey eggs are scarce in stores:
- Turkeys lay only 2-3 eggs per week versus daily for chickens
- Turkeys start laying later at 7 months versus 4-5 months for chickens
- Turkeys require more feed, space and care compared to chickens
- Turkey eggs cost more to produce due to lower supply
- Less consumer demand for costly turkey eggs
For farmers, it’s simply not as profitable to raise turkeys for eggs compared to chickens. But if you get the chance to try one, a turkey egg can be an interesting gastronomic experience!
Understanding how turkey eggs differ from the usual chicken egg gives insight into these fascinating birds. So next time you eat turkey, remember it started as a larger-than-life speckled egg that could blend right into an Easter egg hunt!
Turkey Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs
Turkey and chicken eggs share some similarities but are also very different from each other. Turkey eggs are quite a bit bigger than chicken eggs—more than 50 percent larger. Whereas a chicken egg weighs about 50 grams, a turkey egg can range from about 65 to 115 grams but is typically similar in size to the size of duck eggs.
When it comes to taste, its generally agreed that these two types of eggs taste about the same, although turkey eggs are often described as being creamier. The membrane between the turkey eggshell and egg is thicker, as is the eggshell itself, which requires a sharp blow to crack. Turkey eggshells can be white, cream-colored, brown, or speckled.
One aspect that differentiates these eggs is the nutritional breakdown. A turkey egg provides almost double the calories, protein, and fat as a chicken egg, partly due to its larger size.
The Economics of Turkey Eggs
Unless you know someone who raises their own turkeys, turkey eggs are extremely difficult to find. The reason for that comes down to economics, which in turn is a function of the turkeys fertility cycle. For starters, turkeys lay up to 100 eggs per year, compared to up to 350 chicken eggs laid per year for top egg-laying chickens.
Moreover, turkeys are bigger and require more space and more food, which means its more expensive to raise turkeys. Turkeys also take longer to start laying eggs, beginning at around 28 weeks of age as opposed to around 20 weeks for chickens. To put that in context, a turkey is ready for slaughter at 14 to 18 weeks, meaning it requires and additional 10 to 14 weeks of feeding before it ever lays a single egg. When the turkey does finally start laying, its at a rate of up to about two eggs per week, compared to almost one chicken egg a day for top egg-laying chickens.
Why Don’t We Eat Turkey Eggs!
FAQ
How do you identify a turkey egg?
Egg Description: Pale yellowish tan, evenly marked with reddish brown or pinkish spots. Condition at Hatching: Well-developed and covered with tawny, brown, pinkish, and gray down.
Can you eat turkey eggs?
did you know that you can eat Turkey eggs. Turkey eggs are only about 50 larger than a chicken egg. but they have nearly twice the amount of calories. fats and protein. but the look. texture and flavor of a Turkey egg. is nearly identical to that of a chicken egg. if Turkey eggs can pack such a punch.
What time of year do turkeys lay eggs?
Eggs laid within a few days after breeding do better than those laid with stored sperm. Most hens are laying at the end of March through early April.
What do turkey eggs look like?
Wild turkey eggs are a creamy white or buff color, and may be splotched with brown or red dots at one end. After hatching, females lead the fledgling birds to food and the young birds quickly learn to forage for themselves. Among young birds, females are called jennies and males are called jakes .
Are turkey eggs brown?
Turkey eggs are usually a white to creamy white or peach color with pretty brown flecks and speckles. The color and number of speckles on each egg will be dependent on the hen who lays them. Some eggs will have a lot of speckles and some may only have a few.
What does a turkey egg taste like?
Turkey eggs are similar to duck eggs in size and taste. The egg has a thicker yolk and egg white, giving it a creamier taste and consistency. Some people prefer turkey eggs for cooking pastries because of the richer flavor. Turkey eggs are hard to find in stores because most farmers get more value from raising the bird rather than selling the egg.