Virginia Opossum Gestation Calculator
Last updated
A virginia opossum's gestation period is about 13 days, or roughly 0 months and 1 week, though it ranges from 12 to 14 days depending on breed and individual animal.
Calculate a joey due date
Estimated birthing date
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Earliest
17 Oct 2026
Latest
19 Oct 2026
0 of 13 days elapsed
Milestone timeline
| Day | Milestone | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Mating; the breeding season starts in late winter | 5 Oct 2026 |
| 8 | Embryos develop rapidly | 13 Oct 2026 |
| 13 | Birth: newborns crawl into the pouch and attach to a teat | 18 Oct 2026 |
How to use the virginia opossum gestation calculator
- 1. Choose what you know. Enter the breeding date to get a due date, or switch to the target due date mode to work backwards to the breeding date you need.
- 2. Refine the inputs. The calculator uses the 13-day average for this species.
- 3. Plan around the range. Use the earliest and latest dates and the milestone timeline to schedule checks, feed changes and preparation of the birthing area.
How long is a virginia opossum's gestation period?
The average is 13 days from breeding to birthing, about 0 months and 1 week. Anything between 12 and 14 days is normal, and a typical litter is 8-9 joeys. Treat the calculated date as the middle of that window rather than a fixed appointment.
Virginia opossum gestation table: breeding date to birthing date
Breeding dates one week apart with the matching birthing date at 13 days.
| Breeding date | Expected birthing date |
|---|---|
| 5 Oct 2026 | 18 Oct 2026 |
| 12 Oct 2026 | 25 Oct 2026 |
| 19 Oct 2026 | 1 Nov 2026 |
| 26 Oct 2026 | 8 Nov 2026 |
| 2 Nov 2026 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| 9 Nov 2026 | 22 Nov 2026 |
| 16 Nov 2026 | 29 Nov 2026 |
| 23 Nov 2026 | 6 Dec 2026 |
| 30 Nov 2026 | 13 Dec 2026 |
| 7 Dec 2026 | 20 Dec 2026 |
| 14 Dec 2026 | 27 Dec 2026 |
| 21 Dec 2026 | 3 Jan 2027 |
Working backwards from a target birthing date
If you want joeys on the ground in a particular week, switch the calculator to target date mode and enter the date you are aiming for. It subtracts 13 days to give the breeding date to book, plus the earliest and latest service dates that still land inside your window.