When do I stop turning emu eggs?

Oregon State's bulletin says to move emu eggs to a separate hatcher three to five days before they are due, and not to turn them after that. On a 52-day calendar that is about day 48.

What temperature and humidity do emu eggs need?

Oregon State's bulletin gives a temperature of around 96.5°F and 35 to 55 percent relative humidity, with most growers near 40 percent. It also warns that advice for these birds varies a lot from grower to grower, so treat the numbers as a starting point.

Free tool

Emu egg incubation calculator

Emu eggs hatch in 46 to 58 days; plan on day 52. Enter the day you set them and get the whole hatch on a timeline, with the incubator settings and the source behind every number.

Date eggs were set

The sources disagree on emus more than on any other bird here: Oregon State's bulletin says 46 to 56 days and the Merck Veterinary Manual says 54 to 58. We plan on day 52, the middle of that span, and show the whole window so an early chick doesn't catch you out.

0
Set eggsTue, October 6, 2026
Eggs go in the incubator. Begin turning (or confirm the auto-turner is on).
48
LockdownMon, November 23, 2026
Stop turning, raise humidity, and keep the incubator closed until hatch.
52
Hatch dayFri, November 27, 2026
Pips and zips! Sources put this hatch anywhere from day 46 to day 58. Leave the chicks in until fluffy and dry.
Hatch window: Sat, Nov 21 to Thu, Dec 3

Downloads a .ics file that works with Apple, Google, and Outlook calendars.

How long do emu eggs take to hatch?

It depends on who you ask, which is why the calculator shows a window (day 46 to day 58) around its planning day of 52. Here is what each reference prints.

Source	Days to hatch	Applies to
Pacific Northwest Extension (Oregon State University)	46–56	Emu
Merck Veterinary Manual	54–58	Emu

Incubator settings for emu eggs

Temperature: around 96.5°F forced-air
Humidity: 35–55% (growers usually run about 40%)
Stop turning: 3 to 5 days before the eggs are due (day 48 on this calendar)

These come from Oregon State's ratite bulletin, which is candid that little formal research exists and most of what is known comes from growers. It suggests weighing the eggs weekly: they need to lose 10 to 18 percent of their weight by hatch.

Hatching something else?

Common questions

How long do emu eggs take to hatch?: Plan on 52 days, and be ready from day 46 to day 58. Oregon State says 46 to 56 and Merck Vet Manual says 54 to 58.
When do I stop turning emu eggs?: Oregon State's bulletin says to move emu eggs to a separate hatcher three to five days before they are due, and not to turn them after that. On a 52-day calendar that is about day 48.
What temperature and humidity do emu eggs need?: Oregon State's bulletin gives a temperature of around 96.5°F and 35 to 55 percent relative humidity, with most growers near 40 percent. It also warns that advice for these birds varies a lot from grower to grower, so treat the numbers as a starting point.

Where these numbers come from

Raising Ratites: Ostriches, Emu, and Rheas (PNW 494). James C. Hermes, Pacific Northwest Extension (Oregon State University). July 1996.
Reproduction of Ratites. Thomas N. Tully, Jr., DVM, Merck Veterinary Manual. Reviewed July 2021.

We read each document ourselves and last checked this page against them on October 5, 2026. Where they disagree, we show you the disagreement instead of picking a winner quietly.

Get a nudge on lockdown day

Log the hatch in PoultryPal and it counts down with you, then records how many chicks hatched and your hatch rate. Premium adds lockdown and hatch-day reminders. Free to download on iOS and Android.