Diy Egg Candeler

DIY Egg Candler

[FONT=times new roman,times]Since my small mixed flock of chickens and ducks (Guineas too!) are all free range, they tend to lay eggs scattered around the acreage and in the cactus. All my birds are good layers and I get an average of 12 eggs a day (half chicken/half duck) The guineas became broody almost overnight once they laid a pile of about 20 eggs - but this worried me as I lock all the birds up together in the bird house at night for safety and this nest is outside the birdhouse.

Since I decided to build an incubator, I need to be able to tell if any of my eggs should go in it. Currently I have only had 2 chicken eggs sat on by a broody hen - all the duck eggs I crack open to feed my dogs have been sans fertilization (despite rampant duck sex). So a candler is in order. Why do they cost so much!?

[FONT=times new roman,times]Step 1 - Research

I looked for a good and simple egg candler online - I really liked the Brinsea model that is like a wee little microscope, but at $60 it seemed exessive (and ill advised to be pulling eggs out to check growth all the time). So I checked on Ebay and found cheap flashlight versions for $20.
Still, that seemed excessive. A DIY search found tons of candlers made from coffee cans and wooden boxes with light bulbs in them, but again, that seemed too clunky. So I set out to 'keep my eyes peeled' for something that would work as a candler while I shopped for parts for my incubator.[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]Tools[/FONT]
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[FONT=times new roman,times]NA[/FONT]

[FONT=times new roman,times]Parts[/FONT]
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[FONT=times new roman,times]1 x PVC pipe fitting[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]1 x High Intensity LED flashlight[/FONT]

[FONT=times new roman,times]Price Breakdown[/FONT]
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[FONT=times new roman,times]PVC pipe fitting (Hardware Store) $0.79[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]High Intensity LED flashlight FREEBIE

[FONT=times new roman,times]Total Cost to Date: $0.79[/FONT]
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[FONT=times new roman,times][FONT=times new roman,times]Step 2 - The Search[/FONT]

Not really a search, per se, more a languid stroll through the hardware store plumbing isle when I found a PVC pipe end that looked just about like it would fit perfectly over my husband's high intensity flash light!
[FONT=times new roman,times][FONT=times new roman,times]Step 3 - The Build

Place the PVC pipe fitting over the light end of the flashlight.