Chicken eggs typically take about 21 days to hatch after incubation begins
. The process involves:
- Turning the eggs regularly (usually 3-5 times a day) for the first 18 days to prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell
- Stopping egg turning around day 18 and increasing humidity to about 65-70% to help the chick hatch
- Chicks usually start hatching on day 21, although some may hatch a day or two earlier or later, with 22-23 days still considered normal
- The actual hatching process can take from 5 to 24 hours, during which the chick uses its "egg tooth" to pip and break the shell
Other poultry species have longer incubation periods, for example, duck eggs take about 28-35 days to hatch, and goose eggs about 30 days
. In summary, for chicken eggs, expect about 21 days of incubation before hatching begins, with some variability of a couple of days, and a hatching process that can last up to a full day.
