# Poultry Incubation Chart

Source: https://chickencoopnest.com/blog/poultry-incubation-chart
Published: 2026-09-13
Publisher: Chicken Coop Nest

Every poultry species has its own incubation period and humidity needs, and mixing species in one incubator is difficult precisely because those numbers differ. This chart lists incubation days, temperature, humidity, and lockdown timing for the species most commonly hatched at home.

## Incubation period and lockdown by species

Chicken: 21 days, lockdown at day 18. The reference species most incubator instructions are written around.

Quail (Coturnix): 17-18 days, lockdown at day 14-15. The fastest common hatch and a popular starting point for beginners.

Duck (most breeds): 28 days, lockdown at day 25. Muscovy ducks are the exception at 35 days, lockdown at day 31.

Turkey: 28 days, lockdown at day 25.

Goose: 28-35 days depending on breed, lockdown 3 days before the expected hatch date.

Lockdown means stopping egg turning, raising humidity, and not opening the incubator until the hatch completes.

[Wikipedia: egg incubation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_incubation)

## Temperature targets

Forced-air incubator (with a fan): 37.5°C / 99.5°F for essentially all the species above. The fan circulates air so temperature is even throughout the chamber.

Still-air incubator (no fan): 38.3-38.9°C / 101-102°F measured at the top of the eggs, because still air stratifies into layers and the reading must be taken at embryo height.

Temperature accuracy matters more than any other variable: consistently running even 0.5°C high speeds development and causes deformities, while running low delays hatching and weakens chicks. Calibrate the incubator with a separate trusted thermometer rather than trusting its built-in display.

## Humidity: the two-stage approach

Days 1 to lockdown: 45-55 percent relative humidity for most species. Waterfowl (ducks and geese) are often run at the lower end or even drier, since their eggs need to lose more moisture across a longer incubation.

Lockdown to hatch: raise to 65-75 percent. The higher humidity keeps the inner membrane from drying and shrink-wrapping the chick as it pips and works its way around the shell.

The more precise method is monitoring air-cell growth by candling rather than chasing a fixed humidity number, since the correct humidity depends on your eggs, your altitude, and your ambient conditions. An egg should lose roughly 13 percent of its starting weight across incubation.

## Turning and candling

Turn eggs at least 3 times a day (an odd number, so they do not rest on the same side each night) until lockdown. Automatic turners handle this hourly. Turning prevents the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane.

Candle at day 7-10 to check for development and remove clear (infertile) eggs, and again just before lockdown. Removing non-developing eggs matters because a rotting egg can burst and contaminate the whole incubator.