Newbie question - Do eggs need oxygen?

[Eggcellent]

I am incubating some eggs in my DIY incubator that is pretty much air tight. I know this may be a silly question, but do the eggs need to "breathe" or anything? I do have some vent holes I can open but this thing has been locked up tight for the first 4 days.

I think more than anything I am just worrying about my little brood because there is nothing more to do other than sit on my hands until day 7 or 8 for candling.

Thanks!

 

[justmeandtheflock]

Yes, but I am not sure home many holes you need to put in there. My LG has 2 1 with removable pluge (one right over the fan) holes and a few more smaller holes that never get plugged. Hopefully someone with experience will tell you how much. Good luck

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sitting on your hands is so hard. But by Day 9 or 10 you'll start seeing movement.

As for your question, I'm not positive on the eggs, but I would think they need oxygen. If you are hand turning, they're probably getting it. But BYC members here have said to remove plugs for lockdown through hatching because they need the added oxygen.

Hope that helps, I'm on Day 18 of my first hatch.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Yes ventilation is very important, especially at hatching. My hova confused me for awhile. It has a large red vent plug that I keep open but I did not realize that there are about nine small holes built into the bottom!

Don't ask me why I didn't realize they were vent holes too. I thought it was just a water overflow!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
Your first hatch? How exciting! It is so great. You have to start a thread for it. I would love to follow with you. I remember my first hatch.

 

[Eggcellent]

Wow thanks for all of the quick responses!

I am on day 4 of my first hatch and I made a turner so I didn't have to open the bator and hand turn them. So basically this thing has been sealed up tight for 4 days. Do I need to open the vent holes during days 1-18?

Thanks again for any info you can give me!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Actually I leave mine open the whole time. I just keep an eye on the humidity. If it goes below 25% I add a little water to bring it to 35-40 % tops the 1st 18 days. Then up to 65% the last 3 days.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

really you leave your red plug out the whole time?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Yes I didn't use to, but I kept having hatches that frustrated me. So after alot of reading I decided to leave the plug out and not worry much about humidity (unless it got below 25%)
I was sure the eggs would die, but they actually hatched better. I am also trying "On the Spot's" tip on putting the incubator up on blocks for better ventilation.
The humidity is dropping a little more than usual, but that goes to show me there is more air circulation going on in there. So I just monitor the humidity a bit more. Usually add about 2-3 tsp of water once or twice a day.
At lockdown I make sure I have my sponge placed directly below the vent plug and as I need humidity I squeeze water onto it from a 50cc syringe. I am trying to keep it at 65%. I also had trouble with too high humidity at lockdown. So I am starting low and letting them take the humidity higher as the natural result of them hatching out.
Still fine tuning, but it is better than before.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

It sounds smart, so what is your hatch percentage after making those changes? I haven't got over 30% yet and often much lower.
Phil there in Star, (the guy with the turkeys on the side of the street) was getting the same percentages as me until he put this own eggs in there and then started getting 100% so I was thinking it was "shipped" eggs