Duck Egg Incubation
Duck egg timing, candling, lockdown, air-cell checks, and moisture management.
Show the dated plan before eggs are set.
The hatch looks familiar to chicken keepers, but duck eggs ask for a different calendar and closer moisture attention.
Calculate Duck DatesQuick Answer
Most domestic duck eggs hatch around 28 days, with lockdown commonly around day 25. Muscovy ducks are different and usually need a longer schedule.
What matters most
Use the duck calendar, not the chicken calendar
Duck eggs are commonly managed on a 28-day incubation plan. That changes candling, turning, and lockdown timing compared with chicken eggs.
Air-cell development tells the real moisture story
Duck eggs can vary by breed, shell, and incubator airflow. Candling gives a practical view of whether moisture loss is moving in the right direction before hatch.
Separate Muscovy plans
Muscovy duck eggs are a common exception and need a longer plan. Do not mix Muscovy timing into a standard duck hatch calendar without adjusting dates.
Reviewed against extension and veterinary sources. Adjust to your incubator manual and local conditions.