i have one of those huge spotlights that are rechargable i tried useing that to candle the eggs but it didnt seem to light up the egg. what is the best thing to use to do it with? and is there any certin way you have to hold them?
Always hold them big end up...and don't be turning them end for end. Make a candler from a tin coffee can with a light under it and put a 1.5 inch hole in the top...that should work. It's what I use.
I use a small Maglight...It works fine and I can see pretty good in the brown egg(only shadow but can see air sack development well) and EEs that are in the bator with it. I wrap my hand around the top and lay the large end of the egg on top of the hole I leave open at an angle...Works great...Got this idea from a post on Homesteading Today site.
I'm putting egg's in a bator in just a few day's. Does anyone mark the egg's to help with the turn? If so what kind of marker is safe? How many times a day should I turn and on what day should I stop the turn? I did this many year's ago but can't remember.
Chilling-- be sure to use pencil (lightly) to mark the eggs ( x on one side, O on the other)- inks aren't safe. Day 18 is when you stop turning. I know there are FAQ posts that are stickied here that are a wealth of info!
When I was turning by hand I turned them every 4 hours but worried about heat loss etc so I bought a turner. Use an egg carton it's much easier than having to do them individually and much faster too. Just put your eggs in a carton with the bottoms cut off (so heat and hiumidity get to your eggs) use a piece of the top to prop the carton on from side to side with each turn...works like a charm.