Forced Air/ Ventilation

[mapurcel]

Good Morning Ya'll,

I would like to know if you need to open ventilation holes in a forced air incubator with a running fan. I see people's posts telling me to do this, especially during lockdown, but no one has made the distinction about bators. My bator has a loud fan. Isn't it doing enough? I have two chicks that came a day early and 8 that aren't even pipping. I'm afraid I suffocated the darlings.

Thank you for your help.
Worried bantam momma

 

[K0k0shka]

They need fresh air. The fan is only moving the existing air around, not replenishing the oxygen. The vents should be open during lockdown.

 

[mapurcel]

Does a pre-set incubator adjust to the vent being open?

 

[K0k0shka]

If the thermostat is working properly, it should. Keep an eye on it though. And you’ll need to monitor the humidity as well, adding more water as necessary because some will be lost through the vents. I kept both of my vents open for the last 2 weeks of incubation and had a great hatch.