update on my 1st hatch attemp

[pigfarmer]

I candled my eggs (46ish) today.

Out of 46(ish), I found 10 to be infertile, rechecked a 2nd time, to possibly have 1 viable one in the 10, and dropped it.

The one that cracked, was indeed a baby peep...but with the shell cracked, I cooked it along with the other nine and fed to
the piglets.
Sooooooooooo, at this point, I have potentially 36 viable eggs to hatch out.

I did have some trouble seeing thru the shell of some from an Ameracauna green shell.
I placed a ? mark and dated it for today (in pencil), to recheck in a few days.

If anyone has a better way to check "dark" shelled eggs, please inform!

I made a candler from 2 brooder lamps, a small pail, tinfoil, and a 150 watt spot lamp.
I just could not see thru some of the green shells, might as well have been black in color.

 

[faykokoWV]

I have two small flashlights I use for candling. The lenses are 1/2 in across. One is old school and the other is LED. The old school with a yellow beam seems to go through the green eggs better, the led goes through the brown eggs better.

FYI, if the shell cracks, but is not leaking anything, dip it in melted candle wax. This seals the crack and allows the chick to continue developing.

 

[Chic Chick]

If you plan on doing a lot of hatches over the next few years then I would suggest you get an actual candler. It is amazing how it shows development even through the dark marans eggs. I'm so glad I have one now!
Otherwise make one out of a large tin can or a good solid cardboard or wood box . Just place a lamp/ light bulb inside the container and tape up that end so no light can escape. I usually just cut a small hole just large enough for the plug to pass through and then duct tape it over to block any light seeping through. Cut a small hole in the other side to place the egg on, and make sure it's perfectly round so no light escapes from around the egg too. In a dark room you should be able to see pretty well into the eggs - at least to see movement.
You should be able to find some web sites that show step by step how to make a good one.
Good luck

 

[pigfarmer]

Thanx for the replies.
Unfortunately the cracked egg is in a piglet belly.
Here is a pix of my candler....

Keeping in mind, the unit houses a 150w flood lamp inside.

It worked really well. Some/most of the checked eggs, veins could be seen before the egg was placed at/on the hole.

The white shells showed very well, some brown shells were a little more difficult.

I lined the inside of the pail with tinfoil (for increased reflectivity).