The Ultimate Incubation Cheat Sheet (2025): Times & Temps For Chickens, Ducks, And Quail

Ever had that moment of panic halfway through your hatching journey?

"Wait... do I stop turning the quail eggs on day 14 or day 15?"

"Is the humidity for Muscovy ducks really the same as Mallards?"

If you've asked yourself these questions, you aren't alone. While many modern egg incubators are designed to be "set-and-forget," knowing the specific biology and timeline of your bird species is often the difference between a disappointing 50% hatch rate and a thriving 95% success story.

At EggBloom, we want to take the guesswork out of your experience. Drawing on up-to-date incubation guidelines and real-world hatch logs, we have compiled this practical 2025 Incubation Cheat Sheet so you can quickly check time, temperature, humidity, and lockdown for the most common birds you hatch.

2025 Incubation Reference Chart

Stop guessing. Save this page to your bookmarks. This incubation temperature and humidity chart covers the key working ranges most small-flock keepers use for common poultry and small birds. Always treat these numbers as typical starting points and fine-tune them based on your incubator manual and local climate.

Key Takeaways for a Successful Hatch

Simply having the numbers isn't enough. To truly boost your hatch rate, you need to understand how to use this incubation cheat sheet and why each setting matters.

Start by finding your species in the chart, then set your incubator to the matching temperature. Use the “Days to Hatch” as your basic timeline, and plan to stop turning on the day listed in the “Stop Turning” column. Finally, shift your humidity into the lockdown range for the last few days so chicks can pip and hatch without getting stuck in the shell.

1. Chickens (The Gold Standard)

For forced-air incubators, keeping the temperature near 99.5°F (37.5°C) is a widely used target that works well for most small incubators. The most critical moment is Day 18. This is "Lockdown." You should stop turning the eggs and boost humidity to help protect the membranes from drying out while chicks are pipping and zipping.

Not sure how to handle humidity? Read our guide on How to Manage Incubator Temperature and Humidity.

2. Ducks: The Muscovy Difference

⚠️ Expert Warning: Not all ducks are created equal. Muscovy ducks take 35-37 days to hatch, much longer than standard ducks (28 days). If you make the common mistake of stopping the turner on Day 25, you can sharply reduce the hatch rate for Muscovy eggs that still need more time to develop.

3. Quail (Fast & Furious)

Coturnix quail are incredibly fast, hatching in just 17-18 days. Because the eggs are so small, they cool down faster than chicken eggs. Make sure your incubator sits in a draft-free room so temperature and humidity stay stable around the eggs.

What is "Lockdown" and Why Does It Matter?

You’ll see the "Stop Turning" column in our incubation chart above. This refers to the Lockdown phase, which is vital for survival and hatch quality.

• Stop Turning: Lets the embryo settle into its final hatching position and line up with the air cell.
• Raise Humidity: Helps prevent the "shrink-wrap" effect when the chick pips the shell so it can move and complete the hatch.

Lockdown usually lasts the final three days before the expected hatch date for that species. During this time, avoid opening the incubator unless you must fix an urgent problem. Every time the lid opens, you lose warm, moist air that chicks need while they are hatching.

The Right Gear Makes the Difference

Knowing the incubation times and temps is step one. Having a machine that can hold those numbers steadily is step two.

Fluctuating temperatures are one of the most common reasons for poor hatch rates. For consistent, low-stress results, look for an incubator with automatic turning and reliable digital control over temperature and humidity, especially if you plan to hatch several species from this chart.

Data authenticity note: The days to hatch, temperature targets, and lockdown humidity ranges in this chart are based on standard poultry-incubation handbooks, household incubator manuals, and aggregated hatch logs from small-flock keepers. They are presented as practical working ranges for home use rather than strict veterinary or laboratory prescriptions. Always follow the instructions for your specific incubator, monitor your own results, and adjust within safe ranges for your birds and local climate.

References 

• Poultry incubation and hatchery-management handbooks summarizing recommended time, temperature, and humidity ranges by species.

• Household egg-incubator user manuals outlining forced-air settings, calibration tips, and lockdown guidance for mixed backyard flocks.

• Extension-style small-flock guides describing incubation timelines and species differences for chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail, and pigeons.

• Aggregated hatch logs from hobby keepers tracking days to hatch, humidity adjustments, and lockdown timing across multiple seasons.

• General avian veterinary advice on safe incubation practices and when to seek professional help for problem hatches.