How Long Do Eggs Take to Hatch in an Incubator?

Incubation days by egg type

Get exact dates for your eggs with the hatch date calculator.

Why hatches run early or late

• Early (day 19–20 for chickens): the incubator ran a little hot.
• Late (day 22–23): the incubator ran cool, the eggs were stored a long time before setting, or they went in cold.
• Spread over several days: eggs of different ages or sizes, or hot and cold spots inside.

Check your readings with a separate thermometer and see why eggs don’t hatch.

How long to wait after day 21

Keep the incubator closed and wait until day 23 for chicken eggs before giving up. Then candle the remaining eggs: if you see movement or a dark, full egg with no light, give them another day. Clear or smelly eggs can go. Never help a chick out of the shell early; it usually causes bleeding.

After the hatch

Chicks can stay in the incubator for up to 24 hours after hatching while they dry, living on the yolk they absorbed. Move them to a warm brooder once most are dry and fluffy. See when to take chicks out of the incubator.