FarmsFlo › Gestation Calculators › Chickens (incubation)
Egg Incubation Calculator
Chicken eggs hatch in 21 days. The two dates every hatch lives or dies by: day 18 lockdown (stop turning, raise humidity) and hatch day itself. Other poultry run longer — ducks and turkeys about 28 days, geese around 30, while Coturnix quail race to hatch in just 17.
Typical management windows for planning — health decisions belong with your veterinarian.
Printable chickens hatch chart (21-day average)
Print this and tack it by the breeding pen — or use the free HerdFlo app to get the exact date for any breeding, breed-adjusted, with calendar reminders.
| Set date | Hatching |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Jan 22 |
| Jan 8 | Jan 29 |
| Jan 15 | Feb 5 |
| Jan 22 | Feb 12 |
| Jan 31 | Feb 21 |
| Feb 1 | Feb 22 |
| Feb 8 | Mar 1 |
| Feb 15 | Mar 8 |
| Feb 22 | Mar 15 |
| Feb 28 | Mar 21 |
| Mar 1 | Mar 22 |
| Mar 8 | Mar 29 |
| Mar 15 | Apr 5 |
| Mar 22 | Apr 12 |
| Mar 31 | Apr 21 |
| Apr 1 | Apr 22 |
| Apr 8 | Apr 29 |
| Apr 15 | May 6 |
| Apr 22 | May 13 |
| Apr 30 | May 21 |
| May 1 | May 22 |
| May 8 | May 29 |
| May 15 | Jun 5 |
| May 22 | Jun 12 |
| May 31 | Jun 21 |
| Jun 1 | Jun 22 |
| Jun 8 | Jun 29 |
| Jun 15 | Jul 6 |
| Jun 22 | Jul 13 |
| Jun 30 | Jul 21 |
| Jul 1 | Jul 22 |
| Jul 8 | Jul 29 |
| Jul 15 | Aug 5 |
| Jul 22 | Aug 12 |
| Jul 31 | Aug 21 |
| Aug 1 | Aug 22 |
| Aug 8 | Aug 29 |
| Aug 15 | Sep 5 |
| Aug 22 | Sep 12 |
| Aug 31 | Sep 21 |
| Sep 1 | Sep 22 |
| Sep 8 | Sep 29 |
| Sep 15 | Oct 6 |
| Sep 22 | Oct 13 |
| Sep 30 | Oct 21 |
| Oct 1 | Oct 22 |
| Oct 8 | Oct 29 |
| Oct 15 | Nov 5 |
| Oct 22 | Nov 12 |
| Oct 31 | Nov 21 |
| Nov 1 | Nov 22 |
| Nov 8 | Nov 29 |
| Nov 15 | Dec 6 |
| Nov 22 | Dec 13 |
| Nov 30 | Dec 21 |
| Dec 1 | Dec 22 |
| Dec 8 | Dec 29 |
| Dec 15 | Jan 5 * |
| Dec 22 | Jan 12 * |
| Dec 31 | Jan 21 * |
* lands in the following calendar year. Table uses the 21-day average; individual animals vary (20–22 days, and breed shifts it — use the calculator above for breed-specific dates).
Incubation periods by species
| Species | Days |
|---|---|
| Coturnix quail | 17 |
| Pigeon | 18 |
| Chicken | 21 |
| Bobwhite quail | 23 |
| Chukar partridge | 23 |
| Pheasant | 24 |
| Duck (most) | 28 |
| Turkey | 28 |
| Guinea fowl | 28 |
| Peafowl | 28 |
| Goose | 30 |
| Swan | 35 |
| Muscovy duck | 35 |
| Rhea | 38 |
| Ostrich | 42 |
| Emu | 50 |
Common questions
How long do chicken eggs take to hatch?
A reliable 21 days at proper incubation temperature (around 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator). Slightly cool incubators can stretch the hatch a day or two.
What is lockdown?
On day 18 you stop turning the eggs, raise humidity to around 65–70%, and keep the incubator closed so chicks can position for hatch. The calculator dates it for you.
When should I candle the eggs?
Around day 7 (clear veins mean development) and again around day 14. Remove clears and quitters so they cannot spoil the hatch.
How long do other poultry take?
Coturnix quail 17 days, pheasant 24, duck and turkey 28, guinea fowl 28, goose about 30, and Muscovy ducks a full 35.
Track the whole herd, not just one date
HerdFlo Pro adds animal records, breeding-to-calving tracking, weaning weights, and a treatment log with withdrawal dates. Join the launch list in the free app.