How do you candle or check fertility in dark eggs?

[macdoogle]

I've ordered Black Copper Marans and Blue Auracana eggs. When I've candled in the past I couldn't see anything in darker eggs. So how can I tell if anything is developing?

 

[ghillie]

I just picked up an Avitronic's Buddy II monitor from Avian Biotech. It is pricey but it shows you heart beat or if it is moving of non viable. Works great!

 

[heathersboers]

I usually use a bright LED flashlight-you really cant tell anything to day 10 or so- and then all you see is the air cell- I float test mine right before lockdown- the ones that dont move go for doggy food...

 

[Higins00]

When I can't see I look for the air cell around day 10. After that I use the smell test. If it smells like something dead when I open the bator I smell each egg and toss the one that smells

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Wow, that sounds incredible. How much was it?

 

[macdoogle]

I'd like to know how much you payed for Buddy. I just looked it up and it was 157 pounds as in English currency. I'm not sure on the exchange rate but that's at least 200.00 dollars. That's without the power converter.
How do you float test? Do the eggs float or sink? and then do you look for movement?

 

[ghillie]

They used to be $410.00. They just dropped the price to $310.00 which includes shipping. You can get them in the U.S.A. at:

http://www.avianbiotech.com/

They do not have them listed on their website because they don't always have them in stock. You have to call them. They are great people to work with.

You do not have to get the power supply. Which is extra. It runs on a 9 volt battery(included), so you can take it to the henhouse.

 

[critterranch]

i normaly just check for good air cells. its alot easier to see air cells than inside the egg itself.

 

[onthespot]

I use a LED flashlight from the hardware store. I go in a completely dark room, (bathroom at night) and hold my hand all around the light so no light escapes, and start at the bottom of the egg, and slowly go up the side of the egg, at around ten days. If I don't see an air cell clearly defined at the top of the egg by then, I toss it, unless it is just too dark to tell. Also, if it just lights up like a little japanese lantern, it's a dud.