Duck Egg Incubation Schedule
Duck eggs hatch 28 days after setting — candle on day 7 and day 14 and day 21, start lockdown on day 25.
- Schedule
- —
- pick a set date to see your hatch schedule
The duck schedule, day by day
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0 | Set eggs in a pre-warmed, running incubator. Turning starts now. |
| 7 | Candle: pull clear (infertile) eggs and any showing a blood ring or stopped development. |
| 14 | Candle: pull clear (infertile) eggs and any showing a blood ring or stopped development. |
| 21 | Candle: pull clear (infertile) eggs and any showing a blood ring or stopped development. |
| 25 | Lockdown: stop turning, raise humidity to 65–70%, keep the lid closed. |
| 28 | Hatch day. Leave chicks in until fully dry and active. |
Incubation period per Mississippi State University Extension. Real hatches spread a day either side of the calendar — temperature is the usual reason.
What to know about hatching duck eggs
Common duck breeds (Pekin, Khaki Campbell, Runner) hatch at 28 days — but Muscovies are the exception at about 35, so know what you set. Waterfowl eggs like slightly higher humidity than chicken eggs, and many keepers mist and cool the eggs briefly once a day after the first week.
Whatever the species, lockdown is always the last three days: turning stops so the embryo can position for hatch, humidity goes up so shell membranes stay pliable, and the incubator stays shut — every peek drops the humidity your hatch depends on. Use the calculator above for exact dates from your set date, or the full Egg Incubation Calculator to compare species.