Brooke Martin
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term candling comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight or specialized equipment works just fine. The process allows you to monitor progress, remove non-viable eggs, and adjust humidity levels. Typically, people candle eggs twice: once on day 7 to check for early signs of life and again on day 14 to evaluate embryo development. After day 14, candling is less common as the chick takes up most of the egg, making it harder to see inside. However, some people may candle again on day 18 or when facing hatching problems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Days before candling eggs | 7 |
| Days to candle again | 14 |
| Days to candle if there are hatching problems | 18 |
| Days for baby chicks to fully develop | 21 |
| Days to give unhatched eggs before discarding them | 23 |
| Days to see something inside the egg | 3 |
| Days to see the peep wiggling and kicking | 8 |
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What You'll Learn
Days 7 and 14 are the best times to candle eggs
Candling eggs is a simple method to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term “candling” comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight works just fine.
It's important to note that some sources suggest candling eggs at other times as well. For example, on day 18, you can see the embryo's movement inside the egg, but it's challenging to see much besides the increasing air sac size at this point. Additionally, some people recheck the eggs a few days before they hatch, especially if they have concerns about humidity levels.
Candling eggs at these key intervals helps manage the hatching process more confidently and can prevent contamination and disappointment later on. It also allows for the removal of non-viable eggs, reducing the risk of rotten eggs exploding in the incubator.
While candling, it's essential to maintain clean hands and only remove eggs from the incubator for a short time, ideally no more than 5–10 minutes. By following these guidelines, you can ensure the embryos receive sufficient oxygen and minimize disruptions to their development.
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How to candle an egg
Candling is a simple method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term "candling" comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight works just fine.
- Prepare your workspace: Choose a dark room or closet with minimal lighting. You can turn off the lights or cover the windows to create a darker space.
- Clean your hands: Ensure your hands are clean and dry before handling the eggs. Oil or dirt on your fingers can clog the pores in the egg shell, restricting oxygen flow to the embryo.
- Use a light source: A strong flashlight or a specialised tool like the Cool-Lite Tester from GQF Manufacturing can be used. You can also use a bare lightbulb. Place the light source in the darkened area where you will examine the eggs.
- Examine each egg: Remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time. Work quickly to minimise temperature changes and preserve humidity levels. Place the narrow end of the egg gently against the light source, allowing the light to shine through.
- Observe the indicators: Look for signs of fertility and development. A fertile egg will typically show a small dark spot (the embryo) with visible veins, which may appear red. The air sac may also be visible. As the embryo develops, the egg will become darker, and the air pocket will increase in size.
- Identify potential issues: If an egg appears clear with no signs of veins, an embryo, or an air sac, it may be a "yolker" (an unfertilized egg). A "quitter" is a fertilized egg that stopped developing, indicated by a blood ring or dark red streaking inside.
- Record and separate: Note down your observations and mark the eggs accordingly. Return the eggs to the incubator, placing them in the same position as before.
- Re-check at specific intervals: Typically, eggs are candled around Day 7 and Day 14. On Day 7, you can check for early signs of life. By Day 14, fertile eggs will be darker with less light passing through, indicating the chick's growth.
- Avoid excessive handling: While it's tempting to candle frequently, limit the number of checks to preserve optimal conditions for the embryos. Aim to candle up to three times, including before placing them in the incubator to establish a baseline.
Remember, candling is a useful technique to assess fertility and development, but it's important to handle the eggs gently and maintain suitable incubation conditions to give your embryos the best chance of successful hatching.
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What to look for when candling
Candling is a simple method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves holding up a light source to the egg to illuminate it so that you can take a look at what is developing (or not developing) inside.
Day 3
Veins may start to be apparent.
Day 5
The yolk of an infertile egg will be seen floating as a darker area towards the top before the air sac.
Day 7
A fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. If you don’t see veins or an air sac, it’s likely the egg isn’t developing.
Day 8
You can see the chick wiggling and kicking in its egg.
Day 10
If the egg is still clear by day 10, it is likely not developing.
Day 14
By now, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg. Look for a darker interior, less light passing through and continued movement. If it still looks clear or hasn’t changed since Day 7, the egg likely isn’t viable and should be removed.
Day 18
Some books suggest candling eggs at 18 days, but it is not common as the chick is usually fully formed and starting to take up most of the space inside the shell.
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Embryo development and signs of life
Day 3:
On the third day of incubation, veins may start to become visible within the egg. This is one of the earliest signs of embryo development. It is important to look for these veins and blood vessels, as they will continue to grow and spread over time.
Day 7:
By day seven, you can expect to see clearer signs of embryo development. At this stage, the peep (embryo) should be visible and actively wiggling and kicking within the egg. This is a critical milestone, as it provides strong evidence of a viable embryo.
Day 8:
On day eight, the embryo undergoes significant development. The eye, digits on the feet, and the heart enclosed in the thoracic cavity become visible. Feathers also start to grow at this stage. The embryo starts to resemble a chick more closely, and a sack called the allantois develops to hold waste.
Day 10:
By day 10, if the egg remains clear and lacks veins or a visible embryo, it may be an indication of an unviable egg. However, it is important to be patient and compare its development to other eggs, as some may simply be slower to develop.
Day 14:
At this stage, the embryo has grown significantly, making it harder to see inside the egg. However, it is important to candle eggs around this time to identify and remove any non-viable eggs with embryos that have died. This helps reduce the risk of rotten eggs exploding and contaminating the incubator.
Day 18:
While some sources suggest candling again on day 18, others advise against it, as the chick is positioning itself to hatch. By this time, the air sac size has increased, and the egg is mostly filled with the chick, leaving little room for observation.
Preventing Embryo Deaths:
It is important to note that embryo deaths can occur due to various factors, including rough handling, incorrect storage, adverse genetic traits, nutrient deficiencies, incorrect temperature and humidity, and bacterial infections. Taking preventive measures can help ensure the successful development of healthy embryos.
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How to prevent embryo deaths
Embryo deaths can occur at two high-risk periods: at the beginning of incubation and just before the chicks hatch. Here are some ways to prevent embryo deaths during these critical periods:
Before Incubation
Embryo deaths before incubation can be prevented by candling eggs to assess their fertility and potential for development. This involves shining a bright light or using a specialized candler or flashlight through the egg to examine its contents. Here are some key considerations:
- Avoid excessive light exposure during the first seven days as it can damage the embryo.
- Look for signs of fertility, such as a lemon-yellow yolk with a small, dark circle in the center on day one, or a small red dot (the embryo) with faint blood vessels by day five or six.
- Identify potential issues, such as cracks in the shell or blood rings, which may indicate a problem with the egg.
- Keep the pointed end of the egg facing down to avoid damaging the embryo, especially during the first couple of weeks.
- Avoid candling too frequently, as accidents can happen, and limit the duration of each candling session to a few minutes to prevent overheating the egg.
During Incubation
Embryo deaths during incubation can be prevented by maintaining optimal conditions and carefully monitoring embryo development:
- Ensure proper incubation techniques, including correct temperature, humidity, and egg turning.
- Maintain clean and sterile conditions to minimize the risk of bacterial infections, which can cause embryo deaths.
- Regularly candle eggs during incubation, especially around days 7-10 and 14-18, to identify early embryo deaths or eggs that have stopped developing.
- Remove non-viable eggs promptly to prevent them from exploding and contaminating other eggs with bacteria.
- Expect some losses, as even commercial hatcheries have an average of 85% of their fertile eggs hatching successfully.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to candle eggs for the first time after 7 days of incubation.
It is recommended to candle eggs for the second time after 14 days of incubation.
The chick is expected to hatch on day 21.
After the first candling on day 7, you can see the embryo as a small dark spot with red veins branching out and a visible air sac.
By day 14, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area within the egg.
