Egg Incubation Calculator — Hatch Date and Candling Schedule

Egg Incubation Countdown

Enter your set date and species to get the hatch date, lockdown date, full candling schedule, and a day-by-day countdown with temperature and humidity guides.

Species

Date Eggs Were Set

Number of Eggs Set

Expected Fertility Rate

Species Quick Reference — click to fill

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days until hatch

Incubation Progress

Day 0 of 21

Set Date

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Lockdown Date

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stop turning eggs

Hatch Date

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expected

Expected Chicks

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of — eggs

Incubator Settings

Candling & Milestone Schedule

Day	Date	Milestone	What to Look For

Phase Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a chicken egg to hatch?

Chicken eggs take 21 days to hatch at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator. Lockdown (stop turning, raise humidity) begins on day 18. Eggs that haven't hatched by day 23 are unlikely to hatch. Coturnix quail are the fastest at 17 days; Muscovy ducks are the slowest common poultry at 35 days.

What temperature and humidity for egg incubation?

For chickens: 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator (100.5°F in still-air), 45–55% relative humidity for days 1–18, then raise to 65–70% humidity for lockdown (days 18–21). Ducks and geese need slightly higher humidity throughout and benefit from daily egg misting.

What is lockdown in egg incubation?

Lockdown is the final 3 days before the expected hatch date when you stop turning eggs, lay them on their sides, raise humidity to 65–70%, and do not open the incubator. Opening the incubator during lockdown drops humidity rapidly and can cause chicks to become 'shrink-wrapped' inside the shell.