turkeys and eggs

Bourbon Red Turkeys
This is Ally, the daughter of Sally. We have Franklin, Frannie, Annie, Sally, and Ally.

We got another turkey egg today and 10 chicken eggs. Egg production has picked up and it's been cold outside. Weather is going to turn bitterly cold though toward the end of the week so the girls may go back on strike.

Our turkey eggs are absolutely delicious. We try to put a turkey egg in each dozen of eggs that we sell. New customers are always hesitant to try a turkey egg but they'll come back the next Saturday (at the Farmers Market) and want ALL turkey eggs. Last summer, we only had 2 hens. I think turkey eggs taste just a little richer, maybe a tad sweeter. You can't beat an over-easy turkey egg.

It seems as if turkey eggs, being larger than chicken eggs, would be a prized item for grocery stores. So why aren't the dairy aisles packed with 'em?

First of all, they say chickens are much more efficient egg-producers than turkeys. Chickens start laying at 19 weeks of age, while turkeys hold off until they're a far more mature 32 weeks old. However, our girls have been excellent layers.

Second, because of their large size, turkeys would require much more nesting room than chickens, which would make commercial coops less cost-efficient.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, turkey hens are far more maternal than chickens. Generations of egg farming have made commercial chicken hens rather nonchalant about their offspring. They lay eggs and show no interest in their outcome. Turkeys, on the other hand, are broody, aggressively protect their eggs and prefer to incubate them.

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The photo's below were taken this past summer.

Franlin taking an afternoon nap.