candling eggs

[RavenWalksAlone]

Hello! I'm new here, but I've been raising chickens for about 3 years now, and I still have a lot to learn. I was wondering: does anyone have any plans for a home-made chicken candler? (or w/e it may be called! lol) I have been looking at my inubating eggs with a bright flashlight, but I was thinking, there must be a better way, especially with brown eggs, which I have lots of. I'm on a tight budget, so I can't really afford to buy a ready-made candler. (I really have to watch it, or I'll go broke buying chickens, and chicken parahenalia!)
Thanks for any advice, and I'm glad I found this forum; its hard for 'ordinary' ppl to understand how crazy you can go over these silly ol' birds!

 

[embkm]

I found lots of inexpensive ideas when I googled "how to make an egg candler". But the best thing that has worked for me is to use a small LED flashlight and cup my hand around the end, leaving space to put the egg up to. It has worked for most of my eggs to where I could see veins by day 7. I have all brown eggs.

 

[houndit]

My brother who is a very clever man made me a candler a while back. It is simply a small box. He cut a hole for the eggs to lay on. He cut another hole and took a 100 watt light bulb (like for a chick light with the on and off switch) and poked that in there. Then he taped it up with black tape. Before that I used a flash light like it was mentioned before. This works sooooooooooooooooooo much better!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
I second this. Mine cost about $25 from Home Depot and works GREAT!!!!! I usually candle while they are sitting in the incubator. Just touch it to the top of each one and I am done in no time.

I am finding, however, that candling is no fun when you are being growled at, bit, and the eggs keep getting taken. LOL (yes, I have my first broody)

 

[Lyz]

i have a box made out of thin wood..like luan..and we cut a hole in it and then took a mouse pad and cut a hole just smaller than the one in the wood...we put a light bulb inside and then candle in the dark...the mouse pad allows you to apply gentle pressure and ensure a seal then the light has to go through the egg and gives a better view of the egg...

 

[paddock36]

I use a flashlight, but I I cut one of the cups from an egg carton and tape it on the end which matches the end of my flashlight so it directs the light to one place. Seems to work really good.

 

[roche477]

I cut a quarter sized hole in the bottom of the box my forced air fan came in for my LG incubator, cradle the egg in the hole and shine a flashlight from the bottom through the hole. It works real good for me. The box is probably 3" square.