Have you ever wondered why turkey eggs are absent from our daily diets? Perhaps it all comes down to their cost?
Chickens lay one egg each day, while turkeys only produce two a week.
“Turkeys have a longer life cycle, so they need to live about seven months before they can start laying eggs,” noted Kimmon Williams, an expert from the National Turkey Federation (U.S.). In contrast, chickens begin laying eggs at just five months old.
Williams also explained that turkeys require more feed and larger living spaces, which translates to higher costs for potential consumers. Farmers have to sell each turkey egg for at least $3, significantly more than the price of chicken eggs.
According to the expert, the eggs of larger birds contain twice the calories and three times the cholesterol compared to chicken eggs. Interestingly, some professional chefs claim that turkey eggs are better suited for making sauces because their yolks are creamier and richer.
Today, people are indifferent to turkey eggs. But it wasn’t always this way
Hundreds of years ago, in what is now the United States, turkey eggs were a popular food among Native American tribes and early European settlers. Initially, these large wild birds were seen as exotic by Europeans, but they quickly became fans of turkey meat and eggs.
The first Spanish explorers of the New World even brought turkeys back home. However, they didn’t gain popularity due to rumors that outbreaks of plague in Europe were linked to the eggs of these imported birds. The French, in particular, were suspicious of the distant geographical origins of these fowl.
Meanwhile, European settlers in the New World considered turkey eggs a luxury. In the 18th century, their popularity surged, and the domestication of turkeys became widespread.
However, the rise of industrial poultry farming in the 20th century transformed American cuisine. Technological advancements allowed farmers to incorporate chickens into the egg and meat production process. Chicken eggs became more profitable and accessible.
As a result, turkey eggs began to lose their appeal. Today, they are a rarity in the diets of average consumers. They are primarily purchased by gourmets or farmers raising birds for Thanksgiving, as reported by the Daily Mail.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a shortage of turkey eggs. Their stocks in incubators have fallen to the lowest level since 1988. This shortage has been primarily caused by outbreaks of avian influenza and the loss of breeding stock.
And although the price of turkey eggs has decreased globally compared to previous years, they still haven’t become a regular part of our everyday diet.
By the way, you can still find a turkey egg omelet at the famous New York restaurant Delmonico’s. They also prepare poached eggs and frittatas from them. But this is more of an exception than the rule.