Newbie question - Do eggs need oxygen?

[Germaine_11.20]

Shipped eggs have a huge impact on development. The ones I hatched from my own RIR's gave me 19 out of 20 hatched. And that was my first hatch! After that they went downhill. (Shipped eggs)

It all depends on the type of eggs, breeder of the eggs, PO handling the eggs and then each persons own incubating techniques.

I have found that some eggs travel better than others.

Out of a typical 1 dozen shipped eggs, I will usually have 50-70 % make it to final lockdown. (Depends on the type of breed)

The other 30-50% either never develop, or quit (usually bloodrings)

Out of the remaining 6-8 I have about 4-6 hatch out. Usually one or two don't make it for some reason. Then I sit around with my nose to the bator wondering if I should open it or not. By 36 hours I open it and usually they are not alive in the egg.

Before I would get about 3 out of 6. Very discouraging. I have some in the incubator right now, so I will let you know the outcome. They are due to hatch on Thursday.

 

[CindyS]

UN incubated eggs do not require much oxygen, if any, but once the chick starts developing air flow is required. Hovabators are designed with small holes in top and bottom to provide fresh air flow created when heat rises. So even with vent plugs in air is coming from bottom to top at all times, When a fan is added, this magnifies the process. The more the egg develops, the more oxygen is required. when a chick pips, the oxygen requirement goes up more, when the chick hatches, even more.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I don't use the plugs in mine either. Oxygen is as important if not more important than the humidity.

 

[Eggcellent]

I read A LOT of information about incubating eggs before I built my bator and began the attempt. I don't ever remember reading that oxygen was so important. In fact, many explanations never mention oxygen at all.

I wonder if this may be why some people are having low hatch rates or 100% losses.

I am pretty sure that my eggs are OK because I have been opening the bator to add water or tinker at least once a day. Let's face it - the embryos are the size of a grain of rice at this point. I don't think they used up all the oxygen in my full size cooler bator.

I did open one of my two vents and I will keep an eye on the humidity.

Thanks to everyone that answered my post - you may have very well saved my little brood.

 

[Merlethe]

Hello there! Not chicken, but blackbird. I found the egg outside, no sign of the nest. It had a small crack at the top but the membrane is intact. I tried to keep it warm with a microwaveable hot water bottle, first of all, which seemed to keep it warm but not too warm. Then I changed that for another hot water bottle, with furry cover - but oddly, though it only felt warm to the touch, the egg got rather hot!
I stopped trying to use artificial methods and put it in my bra instead, where it has been ever since! Now it is at the perfect temperature, but I am wondering what harm may have been done by the high temperature. It was like that for 5, maybe 10 minutes. Would it have done it permanent harm, or even killed it?
PS. for sleeping I have it in a tube with a hole in the bottom. I took the lid off for extra air. It is lightly wrapped in kitchen towel. And the tube is nestled in my bra. As you do