Last updated: October 3, 2026

Bird Egg Incubation Calculator

Enter the date you set your eggs and pick the species to get the estimated hatch date, plus your lockdown (stop turning) date and a candling date. Chicken eggs hatch in about 21 days, ducks in 28, and quail in as few as 17, so the exact dates depend on what you are hatching.

Bird egg being carefully candled beside a tabletop incubator and calendar
Bird Egg Incubation Calculator

Auto-filled from the species. Adjust it if your breed or reference differs.

Incubation Periods by Species

Every species has its own incubation length, so the hatch date shifts with what you set. These are averages under correct temperature and humidity; individual eggs can hatch a day or two either side.

SpeciesIncubation period
Chicken21 days
Duck (most breeds)28 days
Muscovy duck35 days
Goose30 days
Turkey28 days
Coturnix (button) quail17 days
Bobwhite quail23 days
Guinea fowl28 days
Pheasant24 days
Peafowl (peacock)28 days
Pigeon / dove18 days
Budgerigar18 days
Cockatiel19 days
Ostrich42 days
Emu50 days

Candling and Lockdown Explained

  • Candling: Shining a light through the egg to check development. A first candling around day 7 to 10 (for chickens) shows veins in fertile eggs and lets you remove clear or non-developing ones. Many keepers candle again shortly before lockdown.
  • Lockdown: The last 3 days before hatch. Stop turning the eggs, raise the humidity, and keep the incubator closed so chicks can position, pip, and zip without losing moisture.
  • Hatch window: Eggs set together can hatch across a day or two. Resist opening the incubator during hatching, as the humidity drop can shrink-wrap chicks still inside their shells.
  • Temperature matters: Running warm can hatch eggs early, running cool can delay them. Keep temperature and humidity steady and use the calculated date as your target, not a guarantee.

Raising other backyard animals? Try the Horse Feed Calculator, our Bird Nutrition & Feed Calculator for feeding grown birds, and the full Homestead Pets hub.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate my egg hatch date?

Add the incubation period for your species to the date you set the eggs. Chicken eggs take about 21 days, so eggs set on the 1st hatch around the 22nd. The calculator above does this for you and also gives your lockdown and candling dates.

How long do chicken eggs take to hatch?

Chicken eggs take about 21 days to hatch under correct temperature and humidity. Hatching often starts a day early and can run a day late, so expect activity from around day 20 to day 22.

How long do duck and goose eggs take to hatch?

Most duck eggs take about 28 days, but Muscovy ducks take about 35 days. Goose eggs take roughly 28 to 34 days depending on breed, around 30 on average. Select your species above for a precise hatch date.

What is lockdown in egg incubation?

Lockdown is the final stretch, usually the last 3 days before hatch, when you stop turning the eggs, raise the humidity, and leave the incubator closed so chicks can position and pip safely. The calculator shows your lockdown date for the species you choose.

When should I candle eggs?

A common first candling is around day 7 to 10 for chickens, to check for developing veins and remove clear (infertile) eggs. Many keepers candle again before lockdown. The calculator suggests an early candling date based on the incubation period.

Do all the eggs hatch on the same day?

Not exactly. Even eggs set together can hatch over a window of a day or two because of small differences in temperature, egg size, and fertility. Treat the calculated hatch date as the center of a short hatching window, not an exact moment.

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