Air tight incubator?

For the past few years I have used an incubator that had small holes for air exchange with good success.

This year I have a new incubator that is pretty much air tight. The only oxygen getting in would be from me opening the incubator periodically.

Is it essential for there to be places for oxygen to enter the incubator? Or is opening it periodically enough?

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Originally Posted by BaierBalls

For the past few years I have used an incubator that had small holes for air exchange with good success.

This year I have a new incubator that is pretty much air tight. The only oxygen getting in would be from me opening the incubator periodically.

Is it essential for there to be places for oxygen to enter the incubator? Or is opening it periodically enough?

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I would think there would need to be at least some air exchange, but maybe just opening it every few days would be enough? What kind of 'bator is it?

Wish I could be more help...

My incubator is sealed, with great success for a long time. I only open it about once a week and burp the egg tubs. No issues here. Realistically, as long as your egg tubs are sealed well so no humidity escapes, and you are maintaining a constant proper temp in the 'bator, you are good. But my personal take is the more sealed it is, the better. This will also cause your thermostat to not have to work as hard to keep the 'bator healthy and warm.

How "sealed" are we talking? I use a large cooler and the only opening is the small drain valve where I run the wires into the cooler. I wouldn't call it sealed, but it doesn't allow much air flow. Are you guys using 'bators that are completely sealed like an old drink cooler or wine cooler or something?

Do you have pictures of your incubator?

Eggs need to breath, they are alive. The answer is how sealed and how much air as well as how often you open they. If it is too tight, too little and too long you will kill the eggs. the problem is it is hard to say what is too little air flow. I personally would error on the more than less.

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Originally Posted by sho220

How "sealed" are we talking? I use a large cooler and the only opening is the small drain valve where I run the wires into the cooler. I wouldn't call it sealed, but it doesn't allow much air flow. Are you guys using 'bators that are completely sealed like an old drink cooler or wine cooler or something?

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I second this question. I use a converted full-size upright freezer that still has a very good seal around the door. Like mentioned above, I have one small port where wires run out of the incubator, but that's it. I open the door to check on things maybe once a week, and have been hatching BPs with no issue for three years now. A better seal also allows more temperature stability.

I am also using a large cooler, with only a hole big enough for the wiring to pass through.

Our true cooler incubators are sealed fairly tight and we've never had an issue hatching perfect eggs out of it.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Our true cooler incubators are sealed fairly tight and we've never had an issue hatching perfect eggs out of it.

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+1.

I will make a video of our incubator today for everyone and post it up...