What is an ovoscope for and which is the best

Tell me what an ovoscope is for. My husband and I decided to start breeding poultry and buy an incubator for this. In the store, we were offered to take also an ovoscope, they say, it will help to get a brood of all the eggs. What is this apparatus and how does it work?

It is no secret that a young bird is quite expensive, so many try to get one on their own. If you're lucky, you can put eggs under the hen or lay incubator... In both cases, it is very useful to have an ovoscope at home. If you do not know what an ovoscope is, we suggest you get acquainted with this simple, but very important, subject. Thanks to him, it will be possible to pick up only fresh and high-quality eggs for laying. In addition, the ovoscope will help control the incubation process and monitor the development of embryos.

What is an ovoscope

Under an incomprehensible word, there is a simple device with a low power light bulb. An ovoscope shines through the eggs both at the stage of preparation for laying, and during the development of the fetus. The device operates from a network with a standard voltage (220 V) or from a built-in battery.

Checking the stowing material with an ovoscope increases the chances that all eggs will hatch. Transmission helps to see defective eggs with cracks, to determine their freshness. When the embryo appears with an ovoscope, you can see if it has frozen and is developing correctly.

Chicken eggs are most often examined - at least 4 times. A three-time check is enough for duck and turkey eggs, and for goose - just a double check.

Types of ovoscopes

There are different models of ovoscopes. Among them, you can choose an apparatus for large farms, capable of simultaneously shining several dozen eggs. However, in private breeding, poultry most often use more compact and convenient models. They shine through either one or about a dozen eggs.

Of the most convenient ovoscopes for a private economy, it is worth highlighting the following varieties:

1. Hammerhead. The comfortable handle is equipped with a switch and a built-in small lamp at the end. Works from the mains, as well as from batteries. The advantage of the apparatus is at the same time its disadvantage. The ovoscope shines through only one egg (the lamp must be attached to it), which takes time. But eggs do not need to be removed from the incubator for inspection. And one more nuance: for a hammer ovoscope, you need to choose the right lamp. It should completely show through the eggs, but not overheat them.
2. Vertical. Consists of a body with a lamp inside and a vertical egg tray on top. It can hold up to ten pieces, allowing for quick inspection.
3. Horizontal. Also has a body with a lamp at the bottom. The light is directed upwards, but the test hole is on the side of the unit. This avoids overheating. At the same time, there is a drawback, because you can only inspect one by one.

Of the options presented, the most convenient is the vertical ovoscope. Especially his model with a removable tray in the form of a regular cardboard tray in which eggs are sold. It is really convenient to use it at the stage of selection of filling material. You just need to remove the tray, cover it with a cardboard one and turn it over. In the same way, eggs are returned after inspection.

How to check eggs with a hammer ovoscope - video