🌡️ The numbers that decide every hatch

How to hatch eggs, species by species

Temperature, humidity, and days — get these three right and most hatches take care of themselves. Here are the exact targets for chickens, ducks, and quail.

TL;DR — All three species incubate at 99.5°F. Chickens hatch in 21 days (40–50% humidity, 65–70% at lockdown). Ducks in 28 days (55–60%, then ~70%). Coturnix quail in 17–18 days (~45%, then ~65%). Turn eggs 3–5×/day and stop for the final 2–3 days.
Quick reference

Incubation settings at a glance

Species Temperature Humidity (incubation) Humidity (lockdown) Days to hatch
🐔 Chicken99.5°F40–50%65–70% (from day 19)21
🦆 Duck99.5°F55–60%~70% (last 3 days)28 (Muscovy: 35)
🐥 Quail (Coturnix)99.5°F~45%~65% (last 2 days)17–18

See our recommended incubators →

Chicken eggs arranged inside a home egg incubator

🐣 Hatching chicken eggs

Maintain 99.5°F and 40–50% humidity during days 1–18. Increase humidity to 65–70% from day 19. Turn eggs 3–5 times per day until lockdown. Candle at days 7 and 14 to remove non-developers.

Duck eggs being incubated with higher humidity settings

🦆 Incubating duck eggs

Duck eggs want 99.5°F and higher humidity from the start — 55–60% early, rising to 70% for the last three days. Most breeds hatch in 28 days; Muscovy ducks take 35. Duck eggs are larger, so check your incubator's duck capacity before setting a clutch.

Small speckled quail eggs in an incubator quail rack

🐥 Quail egg incubation

Quail hatch fast — 17–18 days. Hold 99.5°F and 45% humidity, rising to 65% for the final 2 days. Use a dedicated quail rack or turner; small eggs slip in standard chicken trays.

FAQ

Hatching questions, answered

What temperature should my incubator be?

99.5°F (37.5°C) in a forced-air incubator, for all three species. Still-air incubators should read about 101–102°F at the top of the eggs.

How often do eggs need turning?

3–5 times a day, every day, until lockdown. Automatic turners exist so you never miss a 6 a.m. turn — this is the single best reason to buy one.

What is "lockdown"?

The final 2–3 days before hatch. Stop turning, raise the humidity, and resist opening the lid. Chicks orient themselves in this window, and sudden humidity drops can shrink-wrap them in the shell.

Can I hatch different species together?

It's tricky — hatch dates and humidity needs differ. Stagger set dates so hatch days align, or run separate batches. If you hatch often, a second budget incubator is a cheap fix.

Why didn't my eggs hatch?

The usual suspects, in order: humidity too high or low, temperature swings, infertile eggs, and too much lid-opening during lockdown. Candle at day 7 and 14 to catch problems early.