Egg Incubation Calculator
Pick your species and the date you set the eggs to get candling, lockdown, and hatch dates. For a chicken-only view and the day-by-day routine, see the hatch date calculator and the incubation guide.
Hatch dateEnter the date you set the eggs
Incubation period by species
Every species has its own incubation length, and lockdown — when you stop turning and raise the humidity — always falls three days before the hatch date.
- Quail (Coturnix) — 18 days, lockdown day 15. The fastest common hatch, which is why quail suit impatient first-timers.
- Chicken — 21 days, lockdown day 18.
- Pheasant — 24 days, lockdown day 21.
- Duck — 28 days, lockdown day 25. Duck eggs need higher humidity than chicken eggs and benefit from misting.
- Turkey — 28 days, lockdown day 25.
- Guinea fowl — 28 days, lockdown day 25.
- Goose — 30 days, lockdown day 27. Larger goose breeds can run a couple of days longer.
- Muscovy duck — 35 days, lockdown day 32. The outlier: Muscovies take a full week longer than other ducks, so do not set them alongside Pekins expecting one hatch date.
Most species incubate at about 99.5°F (37.5°C) in a forced-air incubator, so mixed hatches are possible — but only if you stagger the set dates so everything reaches lockdown together. Waterfowl generally want higher humidity than chickens throughout.
Hatching chicken eggs only? The chicken hatch date calculator covers the 21-day cycle with the full candling and lockdown schedule laid out day by day.
How we calculate it
Hatch = set date + species incubation days: chicken 21, duck 28, Muscovy duck 35, quail 18, turkey 28, goose 30, guinea fowl 28, pheasant 24. Lockdown is 3 days before hatch.
Based on:
- Chicken incubation is 21 days; candle at 7, 14, and 18 days (Mississippi State Extension)
- Incubation basics for small and backyard poultry (Poultry Extension)
Figures are typical guidelines for planning. Your birds, breed, climate, and feed will vary.
Frequently asked questions
How long do duck eggs take to hatch?
Most duck eggs hatch in 28 days. Muscovy ducks are the exception at about 35 days.
How long do quail eggs take to hatch?
Coturnix quail eggs hatch quickly, in about 18 days, which makes them popular for first-time hatchers.
When should I stop turning the eggs?
Stop turning and raise humidity for lockdown three days before the hatch date, whatever the species. The calculator shows that date for you.