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Chicken and duck egg hatch calculator

Chicken eggs hatch in about 21 days and most duck eggs in 28; Muscovy ducks take about 35. Stop turning the eggs and raise the humidity for lockdown three days before hatch day.

When will my eggs hatch?

Chicken eggs set today hatch around October 25, 2026, after 21 days; lockdown starts October 22, 2026.

SetOctober 4, 2026
Incubation21 days
Lockdown (stop turning)October 22, 2026 (day 18)
Hatch dayOctober 25, 2026 (in 21 days)
Day of incubation today0

How it is calculated

  1. Note the day you set the eggs. Day 0 is the day the eggs go into a running incubator.
  2. Add the incubation days. Add 21 for chicken eggs, 28 for duck eggs, 35 for Muscovy duck eggs, 30 for goose eggs, 28 for turkey eggs, 17 for quail eggs to get hatch day.
  3. Start lockdown three days early. 3 days before hatch day, stop turning the eggs, raise the humidity and keep the incubator closed.

Buying or selling poultry?

Questions

How long do chicken eggs take to hatch?

About 21 days at 99.5 F in a forced-air incubator. Eggs that ran cool can be a day or two late.

How long do duck eggs take to hatch?

About 28 days for most breeds, and about 35 days for Muscovy ducks.

What is lockdown?

The last three days: stop turning the eggs, raise the humidity and keep the incubator closed so the chicks can pip and hatch.

Sources

The figures are standard published ranges; individual animals vary, so confirm with your veterinarian.

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