How to Incubate Pheasant Eggs
The short version
| Incubation temp (forced-air) | 99.5–100°F (37.5–37.8°C) |
|---|---|
| Still-air temp (top of egg) | 102–103°F (38.9–39.4°C) |
| Humidity (days 1–lockdown) | 55–60% |
| Humidity (lockdown–hatch) | 65–75% |
| Total incubation | 23–25 days |
| Lockdown day | Day 21 |
| Candle around | day 7, day 14, day 21 |
Day-by-day schedule
| Day | Phase | What to do | Temp | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–7 | Incubation | Set eggs large-end up or on their side and turn an odd number of times a day (at least 3–5), or use an autoturner set to run at least every 2 hours. Pheasant eggs are olive-brown and thick-shelled, so candle around day 7 in a dark room to confirm early veining. | 99.5–100°F | 55–60% |
| Days 8–14 | Incubation | Keep turning and hold temperature steady. Candle to remove clears (infertile) and quitters (blood rings / stalled embryos). Open incubator vents about a quarter more around day 12 as the growing embryos need more fresh air. | 99.5–100°F | 55–60% |
| Days 15–20 | Incubation | Final turning days. The chick fills most of the egg and the air cell should be clearly drawn down. Top up water channels so humidity doesn't crash before lockdown, and open vents fully if the machine is running warm. | 99.5–100°F | 55–60% |
| Day 21 | Lockdown | Stop turning (Mississippi State advises no turning after the 21st day). Lay eggs on their side, raise humidity to 65–75%, and keep the incubator closed — opening it now can shrink-wrap chicks. This is 'lockdown.' | 99.5–100°F | 65–75% |
| Days 22–23 | Hatch | Chicks internally pip into the air cell, then externally pip the shell. Expect peeping and small cracks. Resist opening the lid — humidity loss stalls hatching siblings and can cement chicks to the membrane. | 99.5–100°F | 65–75% |
| Days 24–25 | Hatch | Most chicks zip and hatch. Leave them in the incubator to dry and fluff for several hours before moving to a brooder. Stragglers can arrive a day later, especially from cooler incubators or shipped eggs. | 99.5–100°F | 65–75% |
Temperature: forced-air vs still-air
In a forced-air incubator (one with a fan) the whole cabinet sits at one temperature. Mississippi State University Extension lists 100°F for pheasant in its game-bird hatchery guide, while manufacturers such as Brinsea assume 99.5°F for game birds — either is within the safe band, so aim for 99.5–100°F.
A still-air incubator has no fan, so warm air layers near the top. Measure temperature at the top of the eggs and run higher there — Mississippi State advises adding 2–3°F over the forced-air figure, i.e. about 102–103°F at egg-top. A still-air unit reading 99.5°F at egg-top is actually running cold.
Humidity and the air cell
Run roughly 55–60% relative humidity for the first three weeks, then raise it to 65–75% at lockdown. Mississippi State expresses this as a wet-bulb reading of 86–88°F during incubation at a 100°F dry bulb (about 60% RH). The single best check is still the air cell: candle weekly and confirm it grows to about one-third of the egg by lockdown. Too small means humidity is too high; too large means it is too low.
Candling and hatch window
Pheasant eggs are olive-brown and more opaque than white chicken eggs, so candle in a fully dark room with a bright, focused light. Check around day 7–10 for a web of veins and a moving embryo, and again before lockdown to remove clears and quitters so they don't burst and contaminate the hatch. Expect the bulk of chicks between day 23 and 25; a few stragglers arriving later are normal, especially after cool incubation or shipping.
Calculate your hatch dates
Enter the date you set your pheasant eggs to get your candling, lockdown, and hatch dates — with a calendar download.
Pick a species and the date you set the eggs to see your candling, lockdown, and hatch dates.
Dry-hatch vs standard humidity
- A 'dry hatch' runs lower humidity (roughly 40–50%) through the first three weeks and relies on watching the air cell grow, then raising humidity hard at lockdown. It suits humid climates or big-air-cell shipped eggs; drier-climate hatchers usually need the standard 55–60%.
- Whichever method you pick, the target is the same: the air cell should reach about a third of the egg by lockdown. Candle and adjust to the air cell, not to a fixed humidity number.
Shipped eggs
- Let shipped eggs rest large-end up for 8–24 hours before setting so scrambled air cells can re-settle.
- Pheasant eggs are seasonal and often shipped in spring; jostled air cells and temperature swings in transit routinely cut hatch rates to around 50% even when handled well. Set more than you need.
- If air cells are wobbly or detached ('saddled'), incubate upright in an egg carton for the first week and hand-turn gently.
Common pitfalls
- Trusting the incubator's built-in thermometer — calibrate against a known-good thermometer and hygrometer before setting eggs.
- Opening the incubator during lockdown, which drops humidity and can shrink-wrap a pipped chick.
- Turning past day 21, which interferes with the chick positioning to pip the air cell.
- Under-ventilating late in incubation; game-bird embryos suffocate at days 19–21 when vents are closed to prop up humidity.
- Overcrowding the brooder — pheasant chicks are far more prone to feather-picking and cannibalism than chicks, so give extra space, keep brooder light red/dim, and provide higher-protein (28–30%) game-bird starter.
Frequently asked questions
- What temperature do I incubate pheasant eggs at?
- 99.5–100°F in a forced-air incubator, or about 102–103°F measured at the top of the eggs in a still-air incubator.
- What day is lockdown for pheasant eggs?
- Day 21. Stop turning, raise humidity to 65–75%, and keep the incubator closed until the chicks hatch around day 23–25.
- How long do pheasant eggs take to hatch?
- About 23–25 days for ring-necked pheasant, with most hatching on day 23–24. A few stragglers may arrive a day or two later, especially if the incubator ran slightly cool.
- What humidity do I need for hatching pheasant eggs?
- Around 55–60% for the first three weeks, then 65–75% from lockdown through hatch. Use the air-cell size as your real guide — it should reach about a third of the egg by day 21.
- When should I candle pheasant eggs?
- Around day 7–10 to confirm veining and fertility, and again just before lockdown on day 21 to pull any clears or quitters. Candle in a dark room because the shells are darker than chicken eggs.
- Why are my pheasant chicks pecking each other in the brooder?
- Pheasants are prone to feather-picking and cannibalism. Reduce crowding, dim the brooder to a red light, avoid overheating, and feed a high-protein (28–30%) game-bird starter. Anti-pick guards ('peepers') and extra space help in larger groups.
Sources
- Hatchery Management Guide for Game Bird and Small Poultry Flock Owners (Table 2: Pheasant) — Mississippi State University Extension Service (University extension)
- Important incubation factors — Mississippi State University Extension Service (University extension)
- Incubation Handbook (game-bird incubation temperature & humidity) — Brinsea — The Incubation Specialists (Manufacturer manual)