Turkey Egg Incubation Schedule
Turkey 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 turkey 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 turkey eggs
Turkey eggs share the 28-day schedule with ducks but want dry-land incubation like chickens. Poults are notoriously slow, wobbly hatchers — a turkey hatch can take a full day longer to finish than a chicken hatch, so resist opening the incubator early.
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.