You are here

Incubation duration periods

The duration required for a chick to develop and hatch from an egg varies greatly depending on bird species. A listing of incubation periods and recommended incubation conditions for many commonly observed bird species is shown in Hatching Quality Chicks and Hatchery Management.

In general, the incubation periods are 21 days for chickens, 23 days for bobwhite quail, 28 days for turkeys and most ducks, 17 days for Coturnix (pharaoh) quail and about 33 days for geese. The length of incubation will vary depending on egg collection and storage conditions and incubation conditions. Length of the incubation period can be altered drastically if recommended conditions are not maintained.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

News

White chickens with red faces eat from a red feeder.
Filed Under: Agriculture, Poultry, Avian Flu March 21, 2025

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Until an avian flu vaccine for chickens or other alternative is federally approved, commercial poultry operations in the U.S.

Doctor in a white coat smiling and standing beside a microscope
Filed Under: Agriculture, Animal Health, Poultry, Avian Flu February 4, 2025

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- If egg prices have seemed higher than ever lately, it’s because they are, and consumers can place much of the blame squarely at the feet of the ongoing bird flu outbreak.

Chickens stand at a feeder in a coop.
Filed Under: Poultry, Avian Flu January 30, 2025

With highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, in the environment in Mississippi, owners of backyard flocks have to take extra steps to keep their chickens healthy.

Avian influenza poses an extremely low risk to human health and none to food safety in Mississippi, but its presence poses a risk to backyard flocks and the state’s $3 billion commercial poultry industry.

Contact Your County Office

Your Extension Experts

Portrait of Dr. Kenneth S. Macklin
Professor and Head
Portrait of Dr. Jessica Benoit Wells
Assistant Teaching Professor
Extension Instructor