What Is an Egg Tester?
An egg tester is a device specifically used for examining eggs.
During the egg examination, a bright light source is directed from below the egg to observe the details inside by making the eggshell transparent. Understanding the growth and development of the embryo within the egg allows for better utilization in subsequent production processes.
Uses of Egg Tester
Egg testers are employed to observe the interior of eggs. The examination helps identify and remove eggs where fertilization has failed.
An egg examination can be performed approximately 5 days after incubation and then periodically every few days. To conduct egg examinations correctly, it is essential to perform them in a dark place.
During egg examination, the eggs are rotated to observe the growth of blood vessels and embryo development. Fertilized eggs show the expansion of blood vessels from the embryo, while dead eggs exhibit a dark mass with unclear details.
Egg testers enable the observation of various aspects, including fertilization rates and embryo development. Specifically, they allow the identification of infertile eggs and those that died early. Removing infertile and dead eggs prevents gas accumulation, avoiding the risk of exploding eggs. Additionally, it helps prevent contamination of the incubator by bacteria.
Features of Egg Tester
Advantages
The primary advantage of egg testers is the ability to identify eggs that have not been fertilized or where growth has failed due to incubation conditions. Removing failed eggs during incubation helps protect eggs that can hatch normally.
Furthermore, whether in an incubator or during foster incubation, egg testers can prevent unnecessary incubation by concentrating on viable eggs. The removal of failed eggs ensures that the remaining normal eggs receive proper incubation.
Conducting egg examinations in multiple stages before hatching allows for an early assessment of the number of fertilized eggs. This aids in understanding the reproductive capabilities of parent birds.
Disadvantages
A drawback of egg testers is that, as eggs are often removed for examination during incubation, it can lead to a decrease in the overall temperature inside the incubator. Temperature is a critical factor in hatching eggs, so precautions must be taken not to cool the eggs.
When performing egg examinations, it is crucial to do so in a room at room temperature and to be mindful of the hand’s temperature during the examination. Quick egg examinations are also necessary to prevent adverse effects on hatching.
Types of Egg Tester
1. Handheld Egg Tester
A small egg tester that fits in the palm, allowing eggs to be held for inspection. As the eggs are examined by hand, care must be taken to avoid temperature fluctuations during the inspection.
2. Tabletop Egg Tester
A large egg tester can be placed on a table, enabling the simultaneous inspection of many eggs. Due to its size, it is often used for commercial purposes where a large number of egg inspections are required.
3. LED Egg Tester
An egg tester that utilizes LED lights during the examination. Thanks to LED technology, it emits bright light while being energy-efficient. LED-based egg testers have a long lifespan, resulting in less frequent bulb replacements. Many battery-operated egg testers with easy portability and management also use LEDs.
Presently, LED lights are predominantly used in egg testers for their benefits, such as not emitting high-heat light that could damage embryos during examinations.
4. Automatic Rotating Egg Tester
An egg tester equipped with LED lights for egg examination and an automatic feature to rotate eggs. By rotating eggs at a consistent angle, the health status of the eggs can be verified.
5. Automatic Egg Tester
An automatic egg tester illuminates the target eggs with light while capturing images with a camera for image recognition. By illuminating the eggs from various directions and capturing and analyzing images, precision is increased. Although inspections are conducted through images, clear criteria for automatic selection are defined to ensure accuracy.