Engormix.com / Poultry Industry / Hatching - Incubation

Hypoxia in Incubation

Published: January 23, 2026

Source : Rasel Ahmed / Consultant

What is Hypoxia in Incubation?

Hypoxia is a condition where the embryo does not receive enough oxygen (O₂) for normal metabolism during incubation.

Inside the egg, oxygen must pass through:

Air cell
Eggshell pores
Shell membranes
Chorioallantoic membranes (CAM)
Embryos circulatory system

When the oxygen supply is lower than the embryo’s metabolic demand than embryo faces oxygen shortage, and this condition is called Hypoxia.

Scientific Impact of Hypoxia:

< Reduces ATP (energy) production

< Causes build up CO₂and blood acidosis

< Weakens heart and blood vessel function.

< CAM develops poorly

< Organ growth slows down

< Leads to mid or late embryonic mortality

Causes of Hypoxia during incubation:

Poor ventilation in the incubator or fresh air chamber
Excessive CO₂levels in the incubator or fresh air chamber
High incubation temperature
- High temperature causes high metabolism, and for high metabolism embryo demand high oxygen, and if oxygen supply cannot match this demand than causes hypoxia.
- Poor eggshell conductance (Thick shell or low porosity)
  - Certain breeder flocks (older flocks, low ca diet, stress) produce eggs with low pore numbers. As a result of low pore numbers, its reduces oxygen entry and CO₂exit. It also slows CAM development and causes embryo suffocation from the inside.
  - High humidity in setter
    - Excess humidity=small air cell and less evaporation
    - Reduce space for gas exchange
    - Embryo surrounded by excess fluid
    - CAM cannot expand fully
    - Poor Turning (First 7 days)
      - CAM develops incorrectly
      - Blood vessels fail to grow around the shells
      - Contamination
        Contaminated egg release toxins, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. These gases damage the CAM blood vessels that’s why CAM cannot transport O₂which leads to hypoxia .

Hypoxia is one of the most common hidden causes of poor hatchability and weak chicks.

Related topics:

#Hatching - Incubation

Authors:

Rasel Ahmed

Rasel Ahmed

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