Candling Buff Orpingtons eggs

[eman]

I have 12 Buff Orpingtons eggs in a home mede incubator. Currently they are at day 12. Some of the lighter eggs I can candle with little problem (not 100% on what I am seeing ) but there are a few darker colored eggs I am having problems candling. I candled them at day 7 or 8 but the darker eggs I really can't see much except an air pocket at the end of the egg.

Any suggestions?

Eric

 

[BirdBrain]

Well, at the risk of sounding trite, you might try waiting another 9 days and see what you get.

Those nine days will probably be an eternity.

Some eggs, like Maran, Welsummer and others are impossible to candle and you just have to sit tight.

Keep us posted when your eggs start pipping. I wish it were me that were incubating BO eggs. My son is dying to have some. By the way, how did you make your incubator? I have been tossing around the idea of making one but my DH wants me to wait until we have a property where we can have them legally...Go Figure.

Edited because I can't spell.

 

[SkeeredChicken]

Sounds about the right time to candle them. For the most part, use a 60 watt+ light. It's probably a better idea to use a nice, bright flourescent light(alot less heat that way). For the most part, you should be able to see blood vessels lining the shell. You might also be able to make out an embryo. Good luck.

 

[aran]

yeah lets hear how you made the incubator...i also want to give it a try!

hey BB you HAVE to get some of those buff orps...we have some babies and they are crazy cute!

 

[jimnjay]

You probably wont see veins on the darker eggs. Just keep track of the air cell. If it continues to get larger you should be ok. Around day 18 you will see the air cell and a very dark mass. I use a mini mag flash light and it works great but I have had dark eggs that make early candling nearly impossible as far as seeing veins and movement. As long as you don't smell anything bad coming from you incubator or see any substance ozing from an egg, you should be ok. Just remember to leave the be after day 18.

 

[eman]

I made my bator out of a clear plastic tote with the lids that fold together, dimmer switch, 200 watt bulb, and a computer fan connected to a battery backup power supply. I would not suggest making one out of a plastic tote hind sight being 20/20. Temperature fluctuates too much. Also the 200 watt bulb is overkill. We have been fighting the temp fluctuation since day 1. Matter of fact I came home from work one day and checked the bater and the temp was 120 deg. After freaking out my wife told me the temp was low so she turned it up but didn't realize how little you have to turn the dimmer switch to increse the temp. with a 200 watt bulb. Fortunately she turned it up less than an hour before I got home.

I just finished my second bator for the next batch of eggs since my wife probably cooked most of the eggs. This one is made out of a styrofoam cooler, two 20 watt lights that are made to go under cabinet (they are pretty small), and 5"x7" glass for a window from a picture frame and a computer fan. I am testing it now to see how it will work out.

By the way I just candled a couple of eggs and seen some movement in one of them.

Eric

 

[jimnjay]

Eric, you are right 200 watts is way over kill. If you choose to use a tote again. you can make a cover for the outside out of bubble wrap. The one with big bubbles. It is important to have a box the will maintain heat as well as possible that is why styrofoam has become a popular material in incubators. You can help to maintain the heat within by using some heat sinks. If you box is big enough, fill some containers with lids with warm water and place them in the corners. Also some folks have used rocks or a bowl with pebbles. Anything that holds the heat. It help stablize your temps within.