Duck egg hatching calculator
Ducks and Muscovies: candling, lockdown and hatch day.
Duck eggs take 28 days to hatch in an incubator: they hatch on day 28 after you set them.
Day you set the eggs
The day they went into the incubator.
Pick the day you set the eggs to see their hatch day.
Example: duck eggs set on February 1 are candled on February 14, go into lockdown on February 26 and hatch on March 1.
Days to hatch
Duck eggs
28 days · lockdown day 25
Muscovy duck eggs
35–37 days · lockdown day 32
Questions
How long do duck eggs take to hatch?
Duck eggs take 28 days to hatch in an incubator: they hatch on day 28 after you set them.
What is lockdown?
The last few days before the hatch: stop turning the eggs and raise the humidity so the ducklings can hatch. For duck eggs it starts on day 25.
When should I candle the eggs?
From about day 13 a growing embryo shows as a dark spot with fine blood vessels; an egg that glows bright all through did not start.
What if they have not hatched on the day?
Keep the incubator closed and steady for another day or two — opening it lets the humidity out. Then candle the eggs that are left before you give up on them.
Sources
Last checked September 30, 2026. A common guide — your vet’s plan wins.
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