The incubation stage refers to the time under normal incubation conditions from the start of the seed eggs to the time until the chick comes out of the shell. Different types of ducks and different production purposes of the length of the incubation period is also slightly different: meat duck eggs than egg-type duck eggs incubation period is slightly longer. Generally speaking, the incubation period of duck eggs is 28 days; that of ducks (ducks) is 33-35 days. When the incubation temperature is lower, the incubation time is longer; when the incubation temperature is higher, the incubation time is shorter. The incubation period is prolonged when breeding eggs are kept for a long time. Prolonged incubation period leads to more weak chicks and higher mortality rate during the brooding period. Too high incubation temperature will lead to a decrease in hatching rate.

Duck incubation stage division is based on the embryonic development process and developmental laws proposed, generally divided into: the early stage of incubation (1st to 5th day), that is, the formation of embryonic amniotic fluid and allantoic fluid; mid-incubation (6th to 24th day), that is, embryonic development and maturity; late incubation (25th day to shelling), that is, the embryonic growth period.