The number of eggs a turkey can lay in a year varies significantly, depending on whether the bird lives in a commercial or natural setting. Domestic turkeys managed for breeding are significantly more prolific than their wild counterparts. Management practices maximize the number of eggs laid, differing greatly from the natural reproductive limits of a wild turkey hen.
The Typical Egg Production Cycle
In a commercial breeding environment, a turkey hen typically begins her laying cycle around 31 to 32 weeks of age, with production lasting approximately 28 weeks. Although turkeys are naturally seasonal layers, commercial operations use environmental controls to extend this period beyond the natural spring and summer months. The primary goal is to prevent the hen from becoming “broody,” or wanting to sit on her eggs, which immediately halts egg production.
Consistently removing eggs from the nest encourages the hen to continue laying for a longer duration. A well-managed hen lays an egg roughly every 1.5 days, resulting in about two to three eggs per week. This sustained production allows commercial breeder hens to yield between 100 and 120 eggs within a single, extended laying season.
Factors Influencing the Total Count
The total annual egg count depends heavily on management techniques and the turkey’s genetic makeup. Commercial strains, such as the Broad Breasted White, have been selectively bred to prioritize maximum reproductive output. Conversely, heritage breeds generally lay fewer eggs, sometimes producing closer to 50 to 60 eggs annually under less intensive management.
Artificial lighting programs are a primary factor that extends the laying season, as increasing daylight signals the hen to lay. Hens are exposed to a minimum of 14 hours of light daily to stimulate and maintain production well into the fall. Proper nutrition is also crucial, requiring high-quality feed rich in protein and calcium to sustain the intensive egg production process. Peak egg production typically occurs during the hen’s first year of laying, with output gradually declining as the bird ages.
Laying Habits of Wild Turkeys
The reproductive strategy of a wild turkey hen is dictated by survival, resulting in a much lower annual egg count. Wild hens are seasonal layers, beginning their single reproductive cycle in the spring, triggered by increasing daylight hours and warmer temperatures. The hen lays a single clutch of eggs, typically depositing one egg per day.
A typical wild turkey clutch size ranges from 10 to 15 eggs, which takes approximately two weeks to complete. Once the entire clutch is laid, the hen becomes broody, sitting on the nest for an incubation period of about 28 days. This incubation behavior naturally limits the hen to producing only one set of eggs per year, as she ceases all further egg production during this time.
If a wild hen’s first nest is destroyed early in the season, she may attempt to lay a second, smaller “re-nest” clutch. This is a compensatory measure, however, not a regular part of her annual cycle. The wild hen’s goal is to successfully hatch and raise a single brood of poults, not to maintain continuous egg production.