Wild turkeys in the wild generally have an average life expectancy of about 3 to 4 years, with hens typically living around 3 years and toms (males) about 4 years. This lifespan is influenced by factors such as predation, disease, habitat quality, and the availability of food and water. Turkeys that have easy access to resources and less need to travel long distances tend to live longer, as they face fewer risks from predators and disease
. While most wild turkeys live only a few years, some individuals can live much longer. There are records of wild turkeys living up to 10 years or more, with some banded turkeys documented to have reached 12 to 13 years of age
. In captivity or as pets, turkeys can live up to 10 years or more if properly cared for. However, domesticated turkeys raised for meat are typically slaughtered very young, often between 12 weeks and 6 months of age, due to selective breeding for rapid growth
. In summary:
- Wild turkeys: average 3-4 years, can live up to 10+ years in rare cases
- Captive/pet turkeys: up to 10 years or more with good care
- Farmed turkeys (meat production): slaughtered between 12 weeks and 6 months old
This variation is largely due to environmental pressures and human intervention
