momi - just put your homemade water wiggler inside another ziplock.
We are also using a homemade bator. It is working better this time than last. We love to candle eggs. We have candled a few times already. Unfortunately we can't see into about 1/2 our eggs as they are really really dark. Some of them may have a dark shadow when the chicks inside get big enough, but some of them may as well be solid chocolate. The light ones, especially the white ones from a polish are really easy to see into. So much fun to watch them develop. We just wash our hands before turning and candle a few each evening.
As far as old eggs go. You may be pleasantly surprised. You know there is a whole thread on BYC of people hatching fertile eggs from Trader Joe's! Those eggs have been refrigerated and are at least 10 days old. Don't give up on them!
Thanks I think we will get another ziplock, sounds like a simple solution. To candle or not to candle that is the question. LOL My son is in charge of this whole project we will see what the boss says. LOL If we are going to open the bator to fix the water wiggler, it sure would be fun to take a little peek into some of those eggs. After all this is an educational project. Right!
I would love to see a pic of your bator, I'll post mine if you post yours...
I do hope I am surprised and many of them do hatch, I just figured it cant hurt to put them in there... as long as they dont explode... and I didnt really have much of a choice anyway. So far no weeping eggs, I had read that many had hatched eggs from the fridge and from Trader Joe's. So maybe I shouldnt give up on them but just consider it a bonus if they do hatch. I do wish I knew which ones were the old ones, it would make for a great lesson for the kids. But we just press on. lol
Happy to hear you have your brooder outside now! YAY! mine are in the garage but I am anxious to get them outside, a few more weeks!
