This month

Ducks, quail and turkeys

Incubators, egg trays, brooders, feeders, waterers, feed and fencing for backyard ducks, coturnix quail and turkeys, with the species differences that change the gear.

Incubation & hatching 39Chicks & brooding 19Coops 1Runs & fencing 10Coop automation 1Feeders & waterers 22Feed & supplements 11Eggs, books & gifts 3
A flock of white Pekin ducks standing together on grass
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture Lance Cheung/Multimedia PhotoJournalist/USDA/Lance Cheung, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

How ducks, quail and turkeys differ from chickens

Ducks, quail and turkeys need most of the same gear as chickens, sized and set differently. Duck eggs take 28 days and more humidity; Muscovies take 35–37. Coturnix quail hatch in about 17 days, and turkeys in 28 (Mississippi State Extension). The species table shows temperatures, wet-bulb readings and stop-turning days.

Incubation by species: forced-air settings, with the still-air offset

SpeciesDays to hatchForced-air tempStill-air tempWet-bulb, days 1 to lockdown → last 3 daysRelative humidityStop turning (day)
Chicken21100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F85–87°F → 90°F45–50% → 65% or more18
Duck (most breeds)28100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F85–86°F → 90°F55–60% → 70% or more25
Muscovy duck35–37100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F85–86°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more31
Coturnix quail17100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F85–86°F → 90°F40–50% → 65% or more15
Bobwhite quail23–24100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F84–87°F → 90°F40–50% → 65% or more20
Turkey2899°F (37.2°C)101–102°F84–86°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more25
Goose28–3499°F (37.2°C)101–102°F86–88°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more25
Guinea fowl28100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F85–87°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more25
Pheasant23–28100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F86–88°F → 92°F58–60% → 65% or more21
Peafowl28–3099°F (37.2°C)101–102°F84–86°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more25
Chukar partridge23–24100°F (37.8°C)102–103°F81–83°F → 90°F58–60% → 65% or more20

Days, temperatures, wet-bulb and stop-turning days: Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors. Still-air: add 2–3°F, measured at the top of the eggs (MSU). Relative humidity: Brinsea, Humidity during incubation for chickens, ducks and quail; other species show MSU's general 58–60%. Follow your incubator's manual first.

  • Incubators: check the listed duck or quail capacity, not only chicken eggs. Quail need small-egg rails or inserts; Brinsea warns that quail chicks can drown in open water channels.
  • Brooders: ducklings grow fast and splash, so plan for wetter bedding and more space. Quail chicks are tiny and need narrow waterer channels or marbles in the base.
  • Water: ducks need water deep enough to dip their whole bill. Nipple waterers alone do not work for them.
  • Feed: ducklings need more niacin than chicks, so use a waterfowl or all-flock feed; quail and young turkeys need higher-protein game bird or all-flock rations.

Incubation & hatching

All 39 in incubation & hatching

Chicks & brooding

All 19 in chicks & brooding

Coops

All 1 in coops

Runs & fencing

All 10 in runs & fencing

Coop automation

All 1 in coop automation

Feeders & waterers

All 22 in feeders & waterers

Feed & supplements

All 11 in feed & supplements

Eggs, books & gifts

All 3 in eggs, books & gifts
Incubation calculator by speciesPick a species and the day you set the eggs: get candling days, the stop-turning (lockdown) day and the…

Incubators and trays for waterfowl and quail

The Brinsea Maxi 24 EX lists 24 chicken, 12 large or 40 small eggs; the Nurture Right 360 lists 12–18 duck eggs. Foam incubators take quail rails: Little Giant and Farm Innovators sell 120-egg sets, and Incubator Warehouse makes a quail tray for the Nurture Right 360.

Brooding, feeding and fencing

Ducks and turkeys range well inside electric poultry netting such as Premier 1 PoultryNet or a Starkline kit; quail usually live in covered pens or hutches because they fly. Keep a deep open waterer for ducks, like the Little Giant 7-gallon hanging waterer, and change it often.

Ducklings and SalmonellaCDC warns that ducklings, like chicks, can carry Salmonella even when they look healthy and clean. Wash hands after touching ducklings, their water or bedding, don't kiss or snuggle them, and children under 5 should not handle them (CDC).Source: CDC Healthy Pets
Waterfowl and bird fluWild ducks and geese can carry HPAI. Keep your birds away from wild waterfowl and ponds they visit, and report sick birds or unusual deaths to your state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593 (USDA APHIS).Source: USDA APHIS Defend the Flock

Read next

Best of

Best egg incubators for chickens, ducks and quail (2026)

Best egg incubators compared by listed specs: egg capacity, forced air, auto turning with lockdown stop and humidity…

Best of

Best quail incubators for coturnix and bobwhite eggs (2026)

Best quail incubators compared by listed small-egg capacity, quail trays or rails, turning and humidity, for coturnix…

Best of

Best incubators for duck eggs, by large-egg capacity (2026)

Best incubators for duck eggs compared by listed large-egg capacity, tray fit, turning and humidity, with MSU and…

Best of

Best egg candlers for light, dark and quail eggs (2026)

Best egg candlers compared by listed light, power and egg fit: high-intensity LEDs for dark or speckled shells,…

Best of

Best automatic egg turners and quail rails (2026)

Best automatic egg turners compared by listed capacity, turning cycle and incubator fit, plus quail rails and trays…

Best of

Best chicken waterers: cup, nipple, fount and big-tank picks

Best chicken waterers compared by listed capacity and drinker type: cups, nipples, galvanized founts and big tanks,…

Ducks, quail & turkeys: questions

How long do duck eggs take to hatch?
About 28 days for most breeds and 35–37 for Muscovies (Mississippi State Extension). The incubation calculator gives lockdown and hatch dates.
How long do quail eggs take to hatch?
About 17 days for coturnix and 23–24 for bobwhite quail (Mississippi State Extension).
Can I use chick starter for ducklings?
Ducklings need more niacin than chick starter usually provides. Use a waterfowl or all-flock starter, and follow the feed label; if a feed is medicated, check that it is labeled for ducks.
Can ducks and chickens live together?
Many keepers house them together, but ducks make bedding wet and need deep water. Give ducks a separate wet area and keep the roost dry.
Can turkeys be kept with chickens?
Turkeys can catch blackhead disease from chickens, so many extension sources advise keeping them apart. Ask a veterinarian or your state poultry lab for local advice.