As spring arrives and the weather warms wild turkeys start their mating and nesting season. The hens begin laying eggs which will hatch into poults (baby turkeys). But what do those wild turkey eggs look like before they hatch? Read on for details on the appearance, size, color, and more of wild turkey eggs.
Wild Turkey Eggs are Tan with Dark Speckles
Wild turkey eggs are tan or buff in color with dark brown speckles distributed fairly evenly over the surface. The speckles help camouflage the egg when the hen leaves the nest.
The tan color comes from pigments deposited as the egg is formed inside the hen, The speckles come from pigment glands on the wall of the shell gland where the egg shell is secreted around the developing egg
Wild Turkey Egg Size
Wild turkey eggs are quite large compared to chicken eggs. A wild turkey egg averages about 3 inches long and 2 inches wide Their elongated shape means the egg isn’t perfectly round.
The eggs weigh between 2.5-3.5 ounces on average. That’s about 4 times heavier than a large chicken egg. Of course, wild turkeys are much larger birds than chickens.
Within a clutch, some wild turkey eggs may be slightly larger than others depending on the age and health of the individual hen. But overall, expect tan speckled eggs around 3 inches long and 2.5-3.5 ounces.
Why Wild Turkey Eggs Are Speckled
The speckled pattern helps camouflage wild turkey eggs when the hen is away from the nest. The speckles break up the egg’s outline so it blends into the twigs, dead leaves, pine needles, and dirt of the nest.
This helps protect the eggs from predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and snakes that may find and eat the eggs while the hen is taking a recess from incubating. The more camouflaged the eggs are, the better chance they have of surviving until hatching.
The speckles come from deposits of pigment as the shell forms around the developing egg inside the hen. They serve an important purpose in egg and poult survival.
How Many Eggs in a Wild Turkey Nest?
Wild turkey hens lay between 8-15 eggs in a nesting season. They lay one egg per day, so it takes 8-15 days to complete a full clutch. More mature hens tend to lay more eggs.
Not all eggs in a given nest will be from the same hen. Mature dominant hens may lay eggs in subordinate hens’ nests to increase their own reproductive success.
Nests can contain eggs from multiple hens, but one hen incubates them all. Generally, a wild turkey nest will contain between 8-12 tan speckled eggs after the hen has completed laying.
Wild Turkey Nests are on The Ground
Wild turkeys build nests on the ground hidden in vegetation. Hens look for sites with good overhead cover from shrubs or grasses and lay the eggs in a shallow depression lined with leaves, grass, and feathers.
Nests are usually at the base of a tree, brush pile, log, or other feature that helps conceal the nest. The hen relies on camouflage from her speckled plumage and the egg speckles to protect the nest.
Sometimes nests are made completely open if vegetation is sparse. But hens still choose sites near something that helps hide the nest. The eggs blend into the brown leaves and soil around the nest bowl.
Turkey Egg Development Before Hatching
Inside the speckled tan eggs, turkey embryos develop for about 28 days before hatching. The hatchlings pip out of the egg with their egg tooth then dry off before leaving the nest.
During the first week of incubation, important organs like the heart, brain, and eyes develop. By two weeks, toes and beaks form. Feathers begin growing around day 16. Then the hatchlings pip out.
The growing embryos get oxygen through the porous eggshell and are nourished by egg yolk. Their development inside the shell is fairly rapid considering turkeys hatch in 28 days.
Why Don’t We Eat Wild Turkey Eggs?
While wild turkey eggs are edible, we don’t eat them for a couple reasons. Wild turkeys only lay 2 eggs per week, making collecting enough for meals impractical. And taking the eggs would reduce wild turkey reproduction.
It’s also illegal to take wild turkey eggs in most states. They are protected to help maintain sustainable wild turkey populations. So while you may stumble across their speckled eggs, it’s best to leave them be.
Their place is in the wild, hatching into poults to sustain turkey populations. We have domestic turkeys that produce eggs specifically raised for eating. Enjoy those instead!
Nesting on the ground is a risky business. Each day is full of danger and brings a new challenge for a nesting hen, which is what makes their feat so impressive.
Poults are extremely susceptible to weather and predators in the first four weeks after they hatch. If they make it past that point, the production is considered a success. It’s important for enough young turkeys to be produced that offset the annual loss, so populations remain sustainable.
Breed first, nest later
Copulation or breeding must first take place for hens to produce fertile eggs.
The timing of breeding is determined by the female turkey and researchers are now learning that physical conditioning may have a greater influence on reproduction. Reserachers believe a hen is not suited to take on the rigors of nesting unless physically in a condition to do so. Therefore, poor conditioning caused by poor nutrition can be blamed for late nesting.
It takes hens about two weeks to lay a full complement of nine to 13 eggs. Hens will only visit the nesting site long enough to deposit her egg for the day. The rest of her time will be spent elsewhere feeding and roosting.
At the end of the laying period, incubation starts. During this time, the hen puts herself in danger to stay on the nest day and night for about 28 days. She needs to bulk up prior to nesting and may take a brief recess period around mid-day to feed on protein-packed insects.
What does wild turkey nesting cover look like?
FAQ
Where do wild turkeys lay their eggs?
Nest sites with considerable lateral cover and light overhead cover such as tree limbs, briars, vines, broom sedge or other vegetation.Nov 20, 2015
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.
Do wild turkey hens sit on their eggs at night?
Hens will only visit the nesting site long enough to deposit her egg for the day. The rest of her time will be spent elsewhere feeding and roosting. At the end of the laying period, incubation starts. During this time, the hen puts herself in danger to stay on the nest day and night for about 28 days.
What month do wild turkey eggs hatch?
Eastern Wild Turkey
Breeding usually begins in late February or early March in its southernmost habitats, but not until April in northern states. The cycle is complete with the hatching of poults by June or as late as mid-summer farther north. Birds that renest may bring off broods as late as August.
What does a turkey egg look like?
Turkey eggs look like regular eggs, but are slightly larger and have brown speckles. According to Modern Farmer, their shells are also slightly tougher than chicken egg shells.
How big are wild turkey eggs?
Wild turkey eggs range in size from about 59 x 45 mm to 68.5 x 46 mm. Abnormalities, such as smaller than average egg size, do occur. Egg shells are smooth, with a matte finish. Colors range from pale to buffy-white, marked with reddish-brown or light pink dots. How many eggs do Wild Turkeys lay? Wild Turkey hens typically lay 10-12 eggs.
How long do wild turkeys lay eggs?
Wild turkeys nest for about 28 days, from the time the last egg is laid to when the poults hatch. Once hatched, the female remains on the nest for another two weeks, until her young can fly. After this period, hens and chicks roost in trees at night. What month do Wild Turkeys lay eggs? The timing of egg laying largely depends on the region.
What does a wild turkey nest look like?
From above, Wild Turkey nests appear as slight dips in the ground, often obscured by surrounding grass, leaves, or other plant matter. The interior of the nest matches the forest floor, lined with dead leaves, twigs, and debris. From the side, nests look like shallow bowls, typically 1 to 1.5 inches deep.
Do turkey eggs taste different than chicken eggs?
Turkey eggs don’t taste much different than a chicken egg. Some people prefer them and eat them on a regular basis. The only difference between a chicken and a turkey egg, when it comes to flavor, is that turkey eggs have a slightly stronger flavor, and the texture is a tad creamier.
How long does a turkey hen sit on her eggs?
A turkey hen has a longer wait than chickens do, however, she will sit on her eggs for approximately 28 days before a poult will hatch. What Do Turkey Eggs Look Like? Turkey eggs are larger than chicken eggs and are a little bit pointier. They are usually off-white with speckles.