Incubation Calendar: Hatch Date from the Setting Date
With this incubation calendar you work out the hatch date: choose the species and enter the setting date to see hatch day, weekly markers and the range of incubation time. Or enter the wanted hatch date and get the day to set the eggs.
Source: Wikipedia – Egg incubation (table “Incubation periods for birds”, after Penn State Extension). Updated: .
How it is calculated
A chicken egg hatches after 21 days, a duck or turkey egg after about 28: setting date plus incubation period gives the hatch date. The calendar does this for eight species.
How it is calculated
The day the eggs go into the incubator is day 0. The hatch day falls as many days later as the incubation period of the species: chicken 21, duck 28, Muscovy duck 35, goose 28 to 33, turkey 28, quail 16 to 18, pheasant 24 to 26, pigeon 16 to 19 days. For species with a range, the middle value is used as the hatch date and the range is shown separately. In reverse mode the calendar works from the wanted date back to the setting day.
What it is useful for
- Timing a hatch for a weekend or a holiday.
- Planning several clutches in a staggered way.
- Noting weekly markers in your calendar, for example for checks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a chicken egg take to hatch?
Chicken eggs need 21 days, whether under a broody hen or in an incubator. Setting date plus 21 days gives the hatch day.
How long is incubation for ducks and geese?
Duck eggs need about 28 days, Muscovy duck eggs 35 days and goose eggs 28 to 33 days.
How do I find the setting day for a wanted hatch day?
Subtract the incubation period from the wanted date. The calendar does this in the mode “Setting date for a wanted hatch day”.
Why is there a range for incubation time?
Chicks hatch earlier or later depending on breed, temperature and humidity. For geese it is 28 to 33 days, for example.
Sources and legal basis
As of: · Editorial policy
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