Turkey eggs are rarely eaten daily due to their high cost, low availability, and turkeys laying fewer eggs than chickens.
Many people enjoy turkey during Thanksgiving, but few think about turkey eggs.
This raises the question: why don’t we eat turkey eggs?
The answer involves several factors, including cost, availability, and culinary preferences.
Why don’t we eat turkey eggs in our daily lives?
The production of the eggs
Turkeys do not lay eggs as frequently as chickens.
While a chicken can produce an egg every day, a turkey only lays about two eggs each week.
This slower rate of egg production is one reason why they are not common in grocery stores.
Additionally, turkeys have a longer life cycle compared to chickens.
Chickens can start laying eggs at around five months old, but turkeys must wait until they are about seven months old.
This longer wait means fewer turkey eggs are available for consumers.
The economic factors
Another significant reason they are not popular is their cost.
Raising turkeys requires more resources than chickens.
Turkeys need more food and larger living spaces, which increases the price of their eggs.
Experts say that farmers would need to sell them for at least $3 each.
This price makes a dozen turkey eggs cost around $36, while a dozen chicken eggs typically cost only about $3.
This high price makes them less appealing to consumers.
Most people are not willing to pay such a premium for turkey eggs when chicken eggs are so much cheaper and more convenient.
The nutritional differences
Turkey eggs are also different nutritionally from chicken eggs. They contain more calories, fat, and cholesterol.
For example, turkey eggs have about twice the calories of chicken eggs and three times the cholesterol.
While some chefs believe that they can enhance certain dishes, such as sauces, the nutritional content may deter many people from choosing them.
Historically, they were more common.
Native American tribes and early European settlers often used turkey eggs in their diets.
When chickens were introduced to America in the 1500s, turkey eggs became less popular.
Chickens were easier to raise and produced eggs more consistently, leading to a decline in the use of turkey eggs.
In fact, in the 18th century, they were considered a luxury item.
Some restaurants, like New York’s Delmonico’s, once served dishes made with turkey eggs.
However, as industrial farming grew in the 20th century, chicken eggs became the standard.
This shift made them even rarer.
Modern demand and availability
Today, they are not commonly found in supermarkets.
They are mostly sought after by food enthusiasts or farmers who want to meet the demand during Thanksgiving.
In recent reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted a shortage of turkey eggs.
The number of them in incubators dropped to the lowest level since 1988, partly due to avian influenza outbreaks.
This shortage further complicates the availability of turkey eggs.
As a result, most people will not encounter turkey eggs in their daily lives.