Maddie James
Candling is the process of shining a light through an egg to check for signs of life. It is typically done in a dark room, with the egg placed on an egg candler. The simplest way to candle an egg is with a basic flashlight, but there are also specialized tools for candling. The ideal time to candle an egg is between 7 to 14 days of incubation. By day 7, you should be able to observe a small dark spot, which is the embryo, along with red veins branching out and an air sac. If you don't see these signs by day 7, it is recommended to wait a few more days before trying again. By day 14, a healthy chick will occupy most of the egg, resulting in a darker interior and reduced light passing through.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to wait before candling eggs | 6-7 days |
| Frequency of candling | Twice |
| Ideal colour of the egg | White and light-coloured shells |
| Ideal colour of the light | Brighter light for darker shells |
| Time taken out of the incubator | Not more than 5-10 minutes |
| Number of eggs candled at once | A few at a time |
| Embryo development time | 21 days |
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What You'll Learn
- Optimal timing: Day 7 and Day 14 are the best times to candle eggs
- Lighting: A dark room is needed to candle eggs
- Egg colour: White and light-coloured eggs are easier to candle
- Equipment: A basic flashlight or specialised candling equipment can be used
- Embryo development: By Day 18, the embryo develops into a chick
Optimal timing: Day 7 and Day 14 are the best times to candle eggs
Candling is the act of shining a light through an egg to determine its fertility and the embryo's growth. It is an essential process in the incubation of chicken eggs, which takes around 21 days. During candling, a viable egg will show a small dark spot, which is the embryo, along with red veins branching out and a visible air sac.
On Day 7, you can check for early signs of life. A fertile egg will have a small dark spot, indicating the embryo, with spider-like veins spreading out. You may even see some movement. If veins and the air sac are not visible, the egg is likely not developing.
By Day 14, a healthy chick will have grown and will take up most of the egg. The egg's interior will appear darker, with less light passing through, and you should still be able to observe movement. If the egg still appears clear or hasn't changed since Day 7, it is likely non-viable and should be removed.
It is important to note that the colour of the egg and the brightness of your light source are factors that can impact the candling process. White and light-coloured eggs are easier to candle, while darker shells may require a brighter light. Additionally, ensure that you work quickly and return the eggs to the incubator promptly to maintain stable temperature and humidity levels.
Candling at Day 7 and Day 14 provides the clearest view of the embryo's development and helps manage your hatch confidently while preventing contamination and potential heartbreak later on.
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Lighting: A dark room is needed to candle eggs
Lighting plays a crucial role in the process of candling eggs. To candle eggs effectively, you will need a dark room or a very dimly lit environment. Working in a dark room is essential because it allows you to better visualize the interior of the egg when a bright light is shone on it.
The darkness enhances the contrast, making it easier to identify the different structures within the egg. In a well-lit room, the light may escape or scatter, reducing the visibility of the egg's internal features. By creating a dark environment, you essentially minimize external light interference, ensuring that the light source you use for candling is the primary source of illumination.
When candling eggs, it is recommended to work quickly and efficiently. Remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time, keeping them out for no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. Prolonged exposure to room temperature can cause temperature fluctuations that are harmful to the developing embryos.
To candle eggs successfully, you will need a bright light source. Traditionally, farmers used an actual candle, holding the egg up to the flame to illuminate its interior. Today, various lighting tools are available, such as bare light bulbs, flashlights, or specialized equipment like the Cool-Lite Tester from GQF Manufacturing.
The choice of lighting tool depends on factors such as the colour and thickness of the egg shell. For darker or thicker pigmented eggs, a brighter light source may be required. However, it is important to be cautious when using high-powered flashlights as they can generate significant heat, potentially harming the eggs. Some people have found success by using a cardboard toilet paper tube to channel the light and create some distance from the heat source.
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Egg colour: White and light-coloured eggs are easier to candle
Candling is the term used for shining a light through an eggshell to see what's happening inside. It is done to check whether the embryo is developing or not. The process is named candling because the bright light was once furnished by candles.
The colour of the egg plays a significant role in how easy it is to candle. White and light-coloured eggs are easier to candle than eggs with coloured or speckled shells. This is because pigmentation in blue eggs runs all the way through the shell, making them more difficult to candle than white or light brown eggs. Dark brown eggs, such as Black Copper Marans, Pendesenca, and Welsummer, are among the most challenging eggs to candle as the brown pigment is laid in a fairly thick layer on top of the eggshell. Dark green and olive-coloured eggs are also challenging as the blue pigment permeates the shell, and the dark brown pigment lies on top.
The darker the eggshell, the brighter the light required to see what's inside. A small ultra-bright torch is all you need, and you can use your hand between the egg and the torch to make a good seal. Most candlers today use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) rather than electric bulbs because LEDs produce a bright white light without much heat.
It is recommended to candle eggs in a dark room. Hold the egg at a slight angle, with the large end towards the light. Rotate the egg until you see something or are certain there's nothing to see. With practice, you will identify fertile eggs by the dark dot, the embryo, and the spider-like blood veins spreading out around the egg. Sometimes, it's hard to see the embryo, and it might be in the centre or on the opposite side of the egg. If the embryo is up against the side of the shell, it will be much easier to see, and you may even see movement or the heart beating!
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Equipment: A basic flashlight or specialised candling equipment can be used
Candling eggs requires a light source to illuminate the contents of the egg. A basic flashlight or specialised candling equipment can be used.
Specialised candling equipment comes in two varieties. The first is a handheld device with a rubber seal around the end, and the second is a table-top unit with a place to sit the egg. The advantage of the table-top unit is that it frees up your other hand to hold the egg, and you don't have to worry about making a good seal between the light and the egg. Most candling devices use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as they produce a bright white light without generating much heat.
If you are using a basic flashlight, an ultra-bright torch is recommended. You can use your hand between the egg and the torch to make a good seal. If you are candling dark-shelled eggs, such as Marans or Welsummer Eggs, you will need the brightest light source available. One way to practice is to start with lighter-coloured eggs and work your way up to the darker ones.
Candling in a dark room will also improve visibility. If you are still unable to see the embryo, wait longer until it has developed further.
It is important to note that eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes but should be placed back as soon as possible. Clean and dry hands are also important when handling eggs, as oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell and deprive the embryo of oxygen.
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Embryo development: By Day 18, the embryo develops into a chick
To candle eggs, you need to place your egg on an egg candler in a darkened room and turn on the light. By observing the shadows from inside the egg, you can identify fertile eggs by the presence of a dark dot, the embryo, and spider-like blood veins. Typically, this process is done after a week of incubation, although some sources suggest that veins may be visible as early as day 2 or 3.
Embryo development is a complex process that begins with the fertilisation of the germinal disc by the sperm, which takes place in the infundibulum approximately 15 minutes after the release of the yolk by the holding follicle. Cell division to create the new embryo starts about five hours after fertilisation and continues as the egg passes through the oviduct and after being laid. The hen's egg typically requires 21 days of favourable incubation conditions for the chicken to develop and hatch, although this can take 22 days, with one day in the oviduct and 21 days in the incubator or nest.
By day 18, the growth of the embryo is nearly complete, with the yolk sac remaining outside of the embryo, and the head positioned under the right wing. This is also the time for transfer from the incubator to the hatcher. On day 19, the yolk sac is drawn into the body cavity, and the embryo occupies most of the space within the egg. Finally, on day 20, the yolk sac is completely drawn into the body, and the embryo becomes a chick, breathing air with its lungs and piercing the inner shell membrane.
It is important to note that the process of candling eggs should be done with care, as even briefly opening the incubator can disrupt the temperature and humidity, potentially harming the developing embryos.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to candle eggs twice: once on day 7 and once on day 14.
On day 7, you should look for early signs of life, such as a small dark spot (the embryo) and red veins branching out.
If you don't see veins or an air sac on day 7, it is likely that the egg isn't developing and may need to be discarded.
By day 14, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg, making the interior appear darker with less light passing through.
Yes, opening the incubator for too long during candling can affect the temperature and humidity, potentially harming or killing the embryos. It is recommended to limit the time the eggs are out of the incubator to 5-10 minutes and candle a few eggs at a time.
