How big do domestic turkeys get?

Domestic turkeys, the type of turkey raised on farms for meat and eggs, can grow quite large depending on the breed. Turkeys are native to North America and were an important food source for Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans. Once domesticated, turkeys became popular on farms due to their versatile meat and egg production.

Weight

The average weight of domestic turkeys varies by breed and sex. The heaviest breed of turkey is the Broad Breasted White, which can grow to 30 pounds or more for toms (males) and 16 pounds or more for hens (females). Other heavy turkey breeds include:

• Broad Breasted Bronze – Toms up to 25 pounds, hens up to 16 pounds
• Bourbon Red – Toms up to 25 pounds, hens up to 14 pounds
• Narragansett – Toms up to 25 pounds, hens up to 14 pounds

Some more moderate-sized turkey breeds include:

• Black Spanish – Toms up to 18 pounds, hens up to 8 pounds
• Royal Palm – Toms up to 18 pounds, hens up to 9 pounds
• Beltsville Small White – Toms up to 16 pounds, hens up to 8 pounds

The lightest domestic turkey breeds include:

• Midget White – Toms 6-8 pounds, hens 4-5 pounds
• Heritage turkey breeds like Standard Bronze – Toms up to 14 pounds, hens up to 8 pounds

So while the biggest domestic toms can reach 30+ pounds, smaller heritage breeds may only weigh 6-14 pounds when fully grown.

Height

The height of domestic turkeys also varies by breed and sex. Larger breeds are much taller, while heritage and small breeds are shorter in stature. Here are some typical height ranges:

• Broad Breasted Whites – Toms up to 4 feet tall, hens 2-3 feet tall
• Heritage breeds – Toms 2-3 feet tall, hens up to 2 feet tall
• Midget Whites – Toms under 2 feet, hens under 1 foot

The tallest domestic turkeys can reach over 4 feet tall when fully grown. But smaller breeds may only stand 1-2 feet off the ground. The average height for a domestic tom is around 3 feet tall.

Length

In terms of body length, domestic turkeys are generally between 2-4 feet long from head to tail. Here are typical body lengths:

• Broad Breasted Whites – Toms up to 4 feet long, hens 2-3 feet
• Heritage breeds – Toms 2-3 feet long, hens up to 2 feet
• Midget Whites – Toms under 2 feet, hens under 1 foot

The long, broad tail feathers can add 8-10 inches to the total length. Males tend to be towards the upper end of the size ranges, while females are shorter.

Wingspan

With their large wings, domestic turkeys have an impressive wingspan. The wingspan ranges from 4 to almost 6 feet across for the biggest varieties:

• Broad Breasted Whites – Toms up to 6 feet wingspan, hens up to 4 feet
• Heritage breeds – Toms 4-5 feet wingspan, hens 3-4 feet
• Midget Whites – Toms 2-3 feet wingspan, hens under 2 feet

The huge wings enable these big birds to fly short distances as needed. Their broad, rounded shape also makes the wings very noticeable when spread out.

Conversion to Pounds

For a sense of scale, here is how the typical turkey sizes convert into pounds:

So a 30 lb tom is a very big domestic turkey, while a 5 lb hen is quite small. Most range between 8-25 lbs at maturity depending on breed and sex.

Growth Rate

Domestic turkeys grow very rapidly, reaching their full adult size within 5-7 months. Here is a typical growth timeline:

• At hatch: 2-3 oz
• 4 weeks: 5-8 lbs
• 8 weeks: 9-15 lbs
• 12 weeks: 13-25 lbs
• 16 weeks: 16-30 lbs

The commercial Broad Breasted Whites are bred to gain weight quickly, putting on 10+ pounds per month. Slower growing heritage breeds may take up to 7 months to finish growing.

Factors Affecting Size

Several factors influence just how large an individual domestic turkey will get:

• Breed – Heritability accounts for up to 90% of the weight difference between breeds.
• Sex – Toms grow much larger than hens due to hormonal differences.
• Nutrition – An abundant high-protein diet supports maximum growth potential.
• Health – Disease or deficiencies can restrict growth and development.
• Management – Proper temperature, space and flock size reduces stress.

By selecting fast growing breeds, providing excellent nutrition and maintaining high health and welfare standards, today’s domestic turkeys are able to reach their genetic potential for rapid growth and large size compared to wild turkeys.

Use of Domestic Turkeys

The large size of domestic turkeys makes them ideal for producing poultry meat. The Broad Breasted Whites mature in less than 5 months at very heavy weights, producing a substantial amount of meat per bird. The larger body size also means a higher ratio of breast meat compared to smaller poultry. Domestic turkey hens also lay 100+ eggs per year, so they produce both meat and eggs for consumption. Heritage breeds grow slower but produce flavorful lean meat.

Comparison to Wild Turkeys

Domestic turkeys are much larger than their wild ancestors. Here’s how they compare:<

Selective breeding has enabled domestic turkeys to far surpass wild turkeys in terms of growth rate, muscle mass, breast size and total weight. Even heritage breeds are still much larger than wild birds on average.

World’s Largest Turkey

The world record for the heaviest turkey ever goes to a giant tom named Tyson, raised in the UK in 1989. Tyson weighed in at a whopping 86 lbs! He was roughly the size of a medium dog.

While Tyson may be an extreme outlier, his massive size shows just how big domestic turkeys can grow with the right genetics and management. Commercial breeds still have incredible growth potential matching the rapid gain seen in Tyson.

Conclusion

In summary, domestic turkeys can reach very large sizes thanks to selective breeding for increased meat production. The biggest domestic toms can weigh over 30 lbs and stand 4 feet tall, with a 6 foot wingspan. Hens are smaller at 8-16 lbs on average. Commercial breeds like Broad Breasted Whites grow especially fast and large. But even heritage breeds are much bigger than wild turkeys. With the right genetics and management, domestic turkeys can achieve remarkably massive sizes compared to their wild relatives.