Free Egg Incubation Calculator: Hatch Date & Lockdown Calendar

Use this free egg incubation calculator to find expected hatch, lockdown, and stop-turning dates for chicken, quail, duck, goose, turkey, and other poultry eggs

How to Use the Egg Incubation Calculator

  1. Select the date you placed your eggs in the incubator.

  2. Choose the bird species you are hatching.

  3. Click Calculate Dates to see your expected hatch date, lockdown date, stop-turning date, and important reminders.

  4. Select Add to My Calendar to save the schedule and set notifications on your phone.

Hatch planning

Incubation Calendar

Choose a start date and bird type to calculate the hatch window, lockdown, stop-turning day, and key reminders.

Poultry Egg Incubation Times

Use these typical incubation periods as a quick reference. Actual hatch times may vary slightly.

Bird Hatch Time Lockdown
Chicken 21 days Day 18
Coturnix quail 17–18 days Day 15
Button quail 16–18 days Day 14
Bobwhite quail 23–24 days Day 20
Duck 28 days Day 25
Muscovy duck 35 days Day 32
Turkey 28 days Day 25
Goose 28–35 days 3 days before hatch

Hatch dates are estimates. Incubator temperature, egg storage, species, and individual development can affect timing.

Egg Incubation Calculator FAQ’s

  • Chicken eggs typically hatch after about 21 days. Most chicken eggs enter lockdown on day 18, when turning stops and humidity is raised.

  • For most poultry, stop turning the eggs and begin lockdown about three days before the expected hatch date. Use the calculator above to find the correct date for your species and set date.

  • The calculated hatch date is an estimate. Incubator temperature, temperature fluctuations, egg storage time, species differences, and individual development can cause eggs to hatch slightly early or late.

  • Yes. Enter the date the eggs are actually placed in the incubator—not the shipping or delivery date. Allow shipped eggs to settle as recommended before setting, and follow any handling instructions provided by the breeder.

FREE INCUBATION QUICK GUIDES

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Next Hatch

Choose the bird you are hatching, then sign up to receive the matching quick guide in your inbox.

Which guide would you like?

Your Chicken Incubation Quick Guide

Your Coturnix Incubation Quick Reference

Your Button Quail Incubation Quick Guide

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