Maddie James
Candling is a method used to check whether 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 comes from the traditional practice of using a candle as a light source, but nowadays, people use flashlights or specialised candling devices. Candling is important because it helps identify non-viable eggs, which can then be removed to prevent contamination and manage hatch rates more confidently. It can also help identify hairline cracks, blood spots, or other undesirable contents. The process should be done in a dark room, and it's important to work quickly to preserve the heat and humidity levels in the incubator.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Shining a bright light into an egg to see inside it without cracking it open |
| Purpose | To check if an egg is fertile and developing properly, and to remove non-viable eggs |
| Timing | Typically candled up to three times: first at around 6-8 days, then a week later, and finally at 14 days |
| Equipment | A bright light source (e.g., a candle, flashlight, or specialised candling device) and a dark room |
| Procedure | Place the narrow end of the egg gently against the light, rotate slightly for the best view, and look for signs of a healthy embryo |
| Identification | Fertile eggs will show a dark spot (embryo) with spider-like veins; infertile eggs will be clear with no veins |
| Precautions | Work quickly to preserve temperature and humidity levels; handle eggs with clean hands to prevent contamination |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare your equipment and environment
To prepare for candling an egg in its shell, you will need to gather the right equipment and set up your environment. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare:
Choose a Suitable Lighting Device
Firstly, you will need a bright light source to shine through the egg. While the traditional method uses a candle, modern alternatives such as a strong flashlight, a cell phone flashlight, or a specialised egg candling device like the Titan Egg Candler or the Cool-Lite Tester are more convenient and safer options. These devices provide a bright, focused beam of light that can illuminate the interior of the egg without causing any damage to the shell.
Prepare the Incubator and Eggs
Before candling, ensure your incubator is functioning optimally and maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level. Clean your hands thoroughly before handling the eggs to prevent contamination. It is recommended to candle eggs in a dark or dimly lit room to get the best view of the interior. If using a flashlight, consider placing a cardboard toilet paper tube over it to channel the light and minimise heat transfer to the egg.
Work Efficiently
When removing eggs from the incubator, work quickly and handle them with care. Take out one egg at a time and limit the time the egg is out of the incubator to no more than 5-10 minutes to avoid harming the embryo. Return the eggs to the same position in the incubator to preserve the ideal conditions for chick development.
Record and Compare Observations
Before beginning the candling process, it is helpful to number each egg and make notes on your observations during candling. This will allow you to track the development of each egg and identify any issues. Compare your findings with expected indicators of progress, such as the presence of veins, blood vessels, and the growth of the air sac.
Practice Safety and Hygiene
Always wash your hands before and after handling eggs to prevent the transfer of bacteria and maintain a clean environment. Be cautious not to over-handle the eggs, as frequent removal from the incubator can cause temperature fluctuations that may harm the embryos. Additionally, refrain from candling too early to avoid disturbing the fragile air cell.
By following these preparation steps, you will be well-equipped to candle an egg in its shell effectively and safely. Remember to work efficiently, maintain hygiene, and handle the eggs with care throughout the process.
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Identify a fertile egg
To identify a fertile egg, you must candle it. Candling involves shining a bright light into the egg, allowing you to see its contents and check whether it is developing properly. The term comes from the past when people used actual candles to see inside the egg.
To candle an egg, place it in a darkened room onto an egg candler and turn on the light. You should be able to see shadows from inside the egg. With practice, you will identify fertile eggs by the dark dot, the embryo, and the spider-like blood veins spreading out around the egg. If you are lucky, you may even see the embryo moving or its heart beating.
After a week of incubation, you should be able to see the signs of a fertile egg. A thin ring around the inside of the egg indicates early death. If you don't see veins or an air sac, it's likely the egg isn't developing.
It is important to identify non-viable eggs during the incubation process, as they can begin to rot and burst inside the incubator, contaminating the other eggs with bacteria.
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Identify an infertile egg
Candling is the process of shining a bright light into an egg to see its contents and check whether it is developing properly. It is a good practice to keep track of how the eggs are developing when hatching eggs at home.
To identify an infertile egg, or a "yolker", look for the following signs:
- You will only see the yolk's shadow inside the egg without the embryo or veins.
- There will be no visible network of blood vessels spreading from the centre of the egg outwards.
- There will be no visible air sac.
- There will be no visible embryo or dark mass.
- The egg will look the same as it did when you first candled it before putting it in the incubator.
It is important to note that it will be more difficult to candle brown or speckled eggs as the dark shells do not become as transparent under the light. Therefore, it is recommended to candle brown eggs on the fifth or sixth day, as it will be harder to get a good view inside later in the incubation process. Additionally, if you are candling the egg from a bird that lays extremely dark-colored eggs, you may need to use the brightest source of light you can find and candle in a dark room.
If you are unsure whether an egg is a "yolker" or a "quitter" (an egg with an embryo that has died), it is recommended to make a note of the questionable eggs and check them again on day 14. Only discard them if there are still no obvious signs of development or if a blood ring has formed, indicating early embryonic death.
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Spot signs of early embryonic death
Embryonic death can occur due to various reasons, and it is essential to identify these signs to prevent further losses. Here are some detailed instructions to spot signs of early embryonic death by candling an egg in its shell:
Day 1 to 7
On the first day of incubation, candling an egg will reveal either a fertile egg or a clear egg. Within the first week, the embryo may start to develop and then die, a phenomenon known as "early death" or "early embryonic death". A thin or dark ring around the inside of the egg indicates early death. The embryo likely died within a couple of hours of the start of incubation. These eggs should be removed from the incubator to prevent them from rotting and potentially exploding, contaminating other fertile eggs.
Day 7
At this stage, it becomes more challenging to identify positive signs of embryonic death. If unsure, it is recommended to wait until day 14, when it becomes much easier to identify.
Day 14
By day 14, the embryo is fully formed and starts to take up most of the space inside the shell. It is harder to see inside the egg, so it is recommended to try looking from both ends. A viable egg at this stage will have visible veins beneath the chick. An early embryo death, or a "quitter", may be difficult to identify at day 7 but becomes more apparent by day 14. The contents of the egg may start to smell, indicating deterioration.
Causes of Early Embryonic Death
- Rough handling of eggs
- Incorrect storage, including storing too long or at the wrong temperature
- Adverse genetic traits
- Ageing of the breeder flock
- Nutrient deficiency of the breeder flock
- Incorrect temperature and humidity during incubation
- Egg turning inside the incubator
- Infection caused by bacteria
- Poorly maintained incubator
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Common candling mistakes to avoid
Candling an egg 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. Here are some common candling mistakes to avoid:
- Not using a dark room: Candling should be done in a completely dark or very dimly lit room. This allows you to see shadows and details inside the egg more clearly.
- Removing all eggs at once: Work quickly and remove the eggs one at a time, not all at once. The egg should be out of the incubator for no longer than 5-10 minutes to avoid temperature fluctuations that can harm the embryos.
- Not maintaining egg temperature: Ensure that you maintain the temperature of the egg during candling. Don't keep eggs out of the incubator unnecessarily, and don't overheat the egg if using an egg candler with a bulb.
- Not identifying "quitters": "Quitters" are eggs where the embryo starts to develop and then dies within the first week. Identify these by looking for a well-defined red circle on the inside of the shell, called a blood ring.
- Not rotating the egg: Sometimes the embryo is hard to see and may be in the centre or opposite side of the egg. Rotate the egg slightly until you get the best view and identify the dark dot, embryo, and spider-like veins.
- Not washing hands: Always wash your hands before and after handling eggs to avoid transferring bacteria and clogging the egg shell pores, which can affect the embryo's oxygen supply.
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Frequently asked questions
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 inside without cracking it open.
You need a dark room, a bright light source (like a strong flashlight or a Cool-Lite Tester), and the egg you intend to candle.
Wash your hands before handling the egg. Place the egg onto your candling device in a darkened room and turn on the light. Rotate the egg until you get the best view. Identify fertile eggs by looking for a dark dot (the embryo) and spider-like veins. Infertile eggs will appear clear with no veins.
Typically, eggs should be candled two or three times. The first candling should take place after 6-8 days of incubation. The final candling takes place about a week later. Avoid candling eggs during the last 3 days of a hatch unless necessary.
Candling too often can lead to the accidental discarding of viable eggs, disturbing fragile air cells, contaminating eggs, dropping fertile eggs, and losing heat and humidity in the incubator.
