April is one of the best times to start hatching eggs for Ancona ducks or Dominique chickens—especially if you’re using an incubator. As daylight increases and outside temperatures begin to rise, your home or barn naturally stays warmer and more stable, which helps maintain the ideal conditions for incubation. Humidity and temperature tend to be easier to regulate in April than in colder winter months or the humid extremes of summer, giving your hatch a better chance of success. These calmer spring conditions help reduce stress on both your power supply and your own nerves!

Timing your hatch for early spring means your ducklings or chicks will have the entire warm season ahead to grow, feather out, and adapt before cooler fall weather arrives. An incubator gives you more control over the process, allowing for staggered hatches or breed-specific timing—perfect for managing a mixed flock. Ancona ducks are hardy and curious, while Dominique chickens are gentle and great foragers, so starting them early gives you more time to enjoy their unique personalities and productivity through the growing season.

Hatching in April also aligns beautifully with the natural rhythm of the farm. Even though you’re incubating artificially, everything else around you is waking up—making it the perfect time to welcome new life. Whether you’re expanding your heritage flock, raising birds for eggs, or simply enjoying the satisfaction of nurturing life from day 1, spring offers the best window for incubation success. There’s something special about hearing the first tiny peeps as the land comes back to life.