Turkey Eggs vs Chicken Eggs: What Are the Differences?

Turkeys and chickens are two common farm animals raised for their meat as well as their eggs. Both birds lay eggs that are fit for human consumption. Yet, when most people think about what kind of eggs they want for breakfast, chicken eggs come to mind and not turkey eggs. Why is that the case? We’re going to explore the differences between turkey eggs vs chicken eggs and show you why the latter is more common and palatable.

Comparing Turkey Eggs and Chicken Eggs

The Key Differences Between Turkey Eggs vs Chicken Eggs

The main differences between chicken eggs are size, color, and nutrition. Chicken eggs are smaller than turkey eggs. Turkey eggs are about 1.25 times the size of the large chicken eggs, and they are pointier as well. Another difference is that chicken eggs are only solid colors such as white, brown, and blue. Turkey eggs are usually white or cream-colored with brown speckles; they do not come in a solid color.

Turkey eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs, but they have too much cholesterol for some people. The yolks of turkey eggs are said to be creamier and denser, so, naturally, they contain more protein and other nutrients. We’re going to examine these differences and more in greater detail below.

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Size

Turkey eggs are larger than even the largest chicken eggs. On average, chicken eggs are about 2 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches in diameter. Turkey eggs are 2.55 inches in length and 1.7 inches in diameter, so they are a fair amount larger than chicken eggs. Also, turkey eggs tend to be pointier, too.

Smaller chicken breeds, like bantam chickens, can lay even smaller eggs with less frequency.

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Weight

As one might imagine, turkey eggs weigh more than chicken eggs, too. Turkey eggs are about 3.1 ounces in weight. Chicken eggs are much smaller, only about 1.7 ounces.  

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Color

Another difference between chicken and turkey eggs is the colors of the eggs these birds lay. Chicken eggs can come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, and even blue! Turkey eggs do not have as much diversity in their colors. They are usually white or cream-colored, and they have brown speckles on them instead of being a solid color.  

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Nutrition

Turkey eggs are more nutritious than chicken eggs. Chicken eggs contain 72 calories, 6 grams of protein, and 373 milligrams of cholesterol. Turkey eggs have 135 calories, 10.8 grams of protein, and 933 milligrams of cholesterol.

The latter part of the nutrition certainly shows why turkey eggs have not achieved the mainstream appeal that chicken eggs have. That much cholesterol is certainly not worth including in most people’s diets.

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Eggs Laid Per Year

Although turkeys have larger and more nutritious eggs in some respects, these birds do not lay nearly as many eggs as chickens. Turkeys will lay a maximum of about 100 eggs per year, and that is in a dedicated incubation situation.

Chickens can lay a lot more eggs, up to 300 eggs or more per year. Different chicken breeds lay more eggs than others. Some breeds are raised on farms specifically because they have the potential to lay so many more eggs than others. For example, the White Leghorn chicken breed can lay between 280 and 350 eggs per year.

If someone were relying on eggs for food or to sell for money, chicken eggs would be a much better investment.

Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs: Egg Thickness

Turkey eggs are thicker than chicken eggs. The average turkey eggs are about 0.44mm in thickness while chicken eggs are about 0.30mm thick. That means if a person is going to crack them open and eat them, they need to put significantly more force into breaking these eggs.

Why Do Humans Pick Turkey Eggs Vs Chicken Eggs?

Image needed: Humans prefer chicken eggs because they are cheaper and have more balanced nutrition.

Turkey eggs seem like a perfectly viable option for human consumption, so why don’t we eat them more often than chicken eggs? Many reasons exist for the preference of chicken eggs over turkey eggs, and we’ve already named a few of them.

For one thing, you need more turkeys to get the same number of eggs as you would with chickens. Even if you had a flock of turkeys, they require more upkeep to make sure they have the right conditions to lay eggs in the first place. The bottom line is that turkey eggs are a lot more expensive because they’re harder to farm in large numbers.

Turkey eggs are also loaded with cholesterol. A single egg has almost three times the amount of cholesterol as a chicken egg. The cost and benefit of that kind of nutrition just does not work out that well.

Lastly, turkey eggs are a lot thicker than chicken eggs, and that means more of a mess in the kitchen. Cracking a chicken egg is about finesse, but a turkey egg is going to require some force. You’re more likely to splatter a turkey egg and ruin your recipe with excess shell bits.

All in all, turkey eggs and chicken eggs are vastly different in many respects. Their most obvious differences are size, color, and length, but their interiors are different as well.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/OlgaVolodina