Wild turkey hens typically lay one egg every 24 to 32 hours during their laying period
. They lay a clutch of about 9 to 13 eggs over roughly two weeks, with the entire clutch laid before incubation begins
. In the wild, the clutch size can vary from as few as 4 to as many as 17 eggs per nest
. Domestic or farm-raised turkeys may lay eggs somewhat differently, with some reports of younger hens laying one egg a day for a few days in a row, and an average of about one egg every other day
. However, turkeys generally lay eggs less frequently than chickens, and their egg-laying is seasonal, mostly occurring in spring (April to June)
. In summary:
- Wild turkey hens lay one egg approximately every 24 to 32 hours.
- A full clutch takes about two weeks to lay, usually 9 to 13 eggs.
- Egg-laying is seasonal, mainly in spring.
- Domestic turkeys may lay eggs at a slightly variable rate, averaging about one every other day or sometimes daily for short periods.
This pattern allows the hen to lay all eggs before starting incubation, ensuring synchronous hatching about 28 days later
