Department of Animal Science                                                                          Oklahoma State University

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Incubation Period and Incubator Operation for Eggs of Domestic Birds Requirement Chicken and Bantam Turkey Duck1 Muscovy Duck Goose Guinea Pheasant Peafowl Bobwhite Quail Coturnix Quail Chukar Partridge Grouse Ostrich Emu Rhea Incubation Period (days) 21 28 28 35-37 28-34 28 23-28 28-30 23-24 17 23-24 25 42 52 36-40 Forced-Air Operating Temperature2 (degrees F., dry bulb) 99.75 99.25 99.5 99.5 99.25 99.75 99.75 99.25 99.75 99.75 99.75 99.75 97.6 97.6 97.6 Humidity (degrees F., wet bulb) 85-87 83-85 84-86 84-86 86-88 83-85 86-88 83-85 84-86 84-86 80-82 82-86 68-70 74-77 74-77 Do Not Turn Eggs After 19th day 25th day 25th day 31st day 25th day 25th day 21st day 25th day 21st day 15th day 21st day 22nd day 39th day 49th day 34th day Operating Temperature During Last 3 Days of Incubation (degrees F., dry bulb) 99 98.5 98.75 98.75 98.5 99 99 98.5 99 99 99 99 97 97 97 Humidity During Last 3 Days of Incubation (degrees F. wet bulb) 90-94 90-94 90-94 90-94 390-94 90-94 92-95 90-94 90-94 90-94 90-94 90-94 70     Open Ventilation Holes One-Fourth 10th day 14th day 12th day 15th day 1st day 14th day 12th day 14th day 12th day 8th day 12th day 12th day       Open Ventilation Holes Further if Needed To Control Temperature 18th day 25th day 25th day 30th day 25th day 24th day 20th day 25th day 20th day 14th day 20th day 21st day       1It has been reported that duck eggs hatch better in stiff‑air incubators than in forced‑air incubators. 2For still‑air incubators add 2‑30F. to the recommended operating temperatures.3Better hatchability may be obtained if goose eggs are sprinkled with warm water or dipped in lukewarm water for half a minute each day during the last half of the incubation period.