Candling in a classroom

[CedarWaxwing]

We'll be starting to incubate some chicken eggs in my kids' classrooms next week. I'm thinking ahead about how to candle them.

The classrooms are pretty bright. We can close the shades, etc, but it is still not a dark room by any means. Is it possible to candle them in a room that doesn't get too dark? I don't want to buy a fancy pants candler if it isn't going to work in there anyway!

Anyone have any tips or tricks to solve this problem? I could do it at night I guess, but I think the kids would really like to participate.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Is there a closet you can use, like the janitor's closet?
If the eggs are white, you can probably candle in a fairly dark room. Very dark brown or blue/green eggs can't.

 

[CedarWaxwing]

Hmm, maybe. I think it is in the basement though. Would it hurt the eggs to bring them down there?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would just unplug the bator and carry it to the closet.
A hen gets off the nest for 30 minutes to 2 hours almost daily depending on ambient temperature so as long as you don't drop the incubator on the way, you're good.
You could also transfer them to an egg carton for the trip keeping the incubator plugged in.