Hatch Date
Enter start date
Day
—/21
Eggs
12
Expected
10
99.5°F
45%
10 of 12
3x
Inputs
Result
Chicken eggs incubate for 21 days. Hatch date = March 1 + 21 = March 22. Forced air adds 0°F to the 99.5°F base. Expected hatchlings = 12 × 80% = 9.6, rounded to 10.
Inputs
Result
Duck eggs incubate for 28 days. Hatch date = April 10 + 28 = May 8. Still air adds +2°F: 99.5 + 2 = 101.5°F. Expected hatchlings = 24 × 70% = 16.8, rounded to 17.
Inputs
Result
Coturnix quail eggs hatch in just 17 days. Hatch date = May 1 + 17 = May 18. Forced air = 99.75°F (displayed as 99.8). Expected hatchlings = 50 × 75% = 37.5, rounded to 38.
Chicken eggs take 21 days to hatch at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator or 101.5°F in a still-air incubator. Humidity should be 45% for days 1–18, then increased to 65–70% during lockdown (days 18–21). Eggs must be turned at least 3 times daily until lockdown.
| Phase | Days | Temperature | Humidity | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Day 1 | 99.5°F | 45% | Place eggs, start turning |
| Development | Days 2–7 | 99.5°F | 45% | Turn 3x daily |
| First Candle | Day 7 | 99.5°F | 45% | Remove infertile eggs |
| Second Candle | Day 14 | 99.5°F | 45% | Remove quitters |
| Lockdown | Days 18–21 | 99.5°F | 65–70% | Stop turning, raise humidity |
The correct temperature depends on incubator type. Forced-air incubators (with a fan) should be set to 99.5°F (37.5°C). Still-air incubators need 101–102°F (38.3–38.9°C) measured at the top of the eggs because heat stratifies without a fan. Even 1°F deviation can reduce hatch rates by 10–20%.
| Incubator Type | Target Temp | Measurement Point | Pros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forced Air | 99.5°F | Anywhere inside | Uniform heat, higher hatch rates |
| Still Air | 101–102°F | Top of eggs | Cheaper, simpler design |
Candling means shining a bright light through the egg in a dark room to check embryo development. First candle at day 7 to remove infertile (clear) eggs and early deaths (blood rings). Second candle at day 14 to confirm growth. A developing embryo shows a network of blood vessels at day 7 and fills most of the egg by day 14.
Lockdown is the final phase of incubation when you stop turning eggs, increase humidity to 65–70%, and avoid opening the incubator. For chickens, lockdown starts on day 18 (3 days before hatch). The embryo is positioning itself to pip through the shell, and any disturbance can cause it to become stuck (shrinkwrap).
Duck eggs take 28 days to hatch and require 55% humidity (higher than chickens due to their thicker shells). Coturnix quail eggs hatch in just 17 days at 99.75°F with 45% humidity. Geese take the longest at 30 days. Turkey and guinea fowl eggs both take 28 days.
| Species | Incubation Days | Humidity | Lockdown Day | Hatch Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 | 45% | Day 18 | 80% |
| Duck | 28 | 55% | Day 25 | 70% |
| Quail | 17 | 45% | Day 14 | 75% |
| Goose | 30 | 55% | Day 27 | 60% |
| Turkey | 28 | 50% | Day 25 | 70% |
| Guinea Fowl | 28 | 50% | Day 25 | 65% |
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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