Ben Carter
Candling is a method used to determine whether incubated eggs are fertile or not. It involves shining a bright light into an egg to illuminate its contents and check whether it is developing properly. While there are specific egg candling devices available at poultry supply stores, a bright flashlight can also be used. The flashlight can be modified by covering the opening with cardboard with a hole in the middle. This process is best done at night or in a dark closet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To determine whether incubated eggs are fertile or not |
| Process | Hold a bright light up to the egg to illuminate the shell's contents |
| Light source | Flashlight, cell phone light, or egg candling light |
| Light specifications | Bright, focused light in the 5000K or greater color range |
| Light examples | Convoy 519A, Wowtac a6 edc, Sofirn SC21 Pro, OLIGHT |
| Alternative methods | Using an Ovascope, or a homemade egg candler made from a coffee can and a light bulb |
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What You'll Learn
Candling equipment: torches, phone flashlights, or egg candlers
Candling is the method used to determine whether incubated eggs are fertile or not. It involves shining a bright light into an egg, allowing you to see its contents and check whether it is developing properly.
Candling equipment can be as simple as a bright flashlight or torch. You can also use your phone's flashlight. If you are using a flashlight, it is recommended to get one that is small and reasonably priced. For example, a Wowtac a6 edc flashlight from Amazon is a cheap, bright option. A rubber piece can be placed around the top so that eggs can safely sit on top and no light escapes. A focused, bright light is best, and a flashlight with a 5000K temperature range is recommended.
You can also make your own egg candler at home by placing a 60-watt lightbulb inside a coffee can and making a 1-inch (2.5 cm) diameter hole in the top of the can. Alternatively, you can take a very bright flashlight and cover the opening with a piece of cardboard with a 1-inch diameter hole in the middle.
There are also specific egg candling devices that you can buy at any poultry supply store. These usually look like small flashlights that are powered by batteries or a plug-in cord. A more high-tech, expensive option is an Ovascope, which has a rotating stand on which you place the egg. The egg is then covered by a hood that blocks out ambient light, and you can view the egg through an eyepiece that magnifies the egg slightly for easier inspection.
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Candling process: shine a bright light into the egg
Candling involves shining a bright light into an egg to illuminate its contents and determine whether it is fertile or not. This process can be done with a small flashlight, preferably one with a high colour temperature and CRI (at least 5000K). The light should be bright enough to see through the egg's shell, but not so bright that it heats up the egg.
To candle an egg with a flashlight, start by creating a dark environment, either at night or in a dark closet. Hold the flashlight up to the egg, shining the light through the shell. You should be able to see the contents of the egg, including any visible network of blood vessels spreading from the centre of the egg outwards, indicating that the embryo is developing properly. If you see a well-defined red circle inside the shell, this is a blood ring, and it means the embryo has died.
If you don't have a flashlight, you can make your own egg candler by placing a 60-watt lightbulb inside a coffee can with a 1-inch (2.5 cm) diameter hole in the top. Alternatively, you can use your cell phone's light or a flashlight app. For a more high-tech option, an Ovascope provides a rotating stand and a hood to block out ambient light, allowing you to view the egg through a magnifying eyepiece.
It's important to follow an appropriate candling schedule and to identify and remove "yolkers" (infertile eggs) and "quitters" (eggs that have stopped developing) during the incubation process. Without candling, it can be difficult to track the development of hatching eggs at home. By candling eggs, you can ensure the health and safety of the developing embryos and avoid contamination in your incubator.
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What to look for: blood vessels, blood rings, embryo development
When candling an egg with a flashlight, there are several key things to look out for: blood vessels, blood rings, and embryo development.
Blood Vessels
Blood vessels will appear as spider-like veins spreading out around the egg. They are the circulatory system of the developing embryo, providing it with the necessary nutrients and oxygen for growth. On day 7 of incubation, these blood vessels should be evenly distributed across the egg, radiating out from the embryo. By day 14, these blood vessels will be more developed and visible closer to the shell.
Blood Rings
A blood ring is an indication that the embryo has died. It appears as a dark line running around the circumference of the egg. The blood ring is formed by the blood vessels that have disconnected from the embryo. When candling an egg and observing a blood ring, you may also see spots of blood or a broken chain of blood vessels.
Embryo Development
The primary purpose of candling an egg is to observe embryo development. After a week of incubation, a fertile egg will show a dark dot, indicating the embryo, along with the spider-like blood veins. The embryo may be harder to see if it is in the centre or opposite side of the egg, so rotation is necessary for a better view. By day 14, the embryo will be more developed, and movement may even be observed.
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Egg types: chicken, quail, brown, white
Candling is a method used to determine whether an egg is fertile or not. 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 old-school practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight works just fine.
Chicken Eggs
Chicken eggs are typically candled on days 7 and 14 of their incubation period. On day 7, a fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. By day 14, a healthy chick will take up most of the egg, resulting in a darker interior, less light passing through, and continued movement.
Quail Eggs
Quail eggs are usually candled on days 9 and 15. On day 9, the candler can check for infertility, and on day 15, they can check for quitters. It is not recommended to candle quail eggs every day, as over-candling could harm the embryo.
Brown Eggs
Brown eggs can be harder to candle, especially after day 7 of incubation, as the embryo develops and it becomes harder to see inside the egg. However, it is still possible with a strong enough light source.
White Eggs
While white eggs are not specifically mentioned in the sources, it can be assumed that they are easier to candle than brown eggs, as lighter-colored eggshells allow more light to pass through, making it easier to see inside.
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When to check: after 13 days of incubation
Candling an egg is a method used to determine whether an egg is fertile or not. It involves holding a bright light against an egg to illuminate its contents. The best time to candle an egg is after a week of incubation. This is because, after a week, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo.
On day 13 of incubation, you can perform egg candling to check for the embryo's development. At this stage, you should be able to see the embryo and the spider-like blood veins spreading out around the egg. If the egg is fertile, you will see a dark dot inside. If the egg is infertile, it will be clear.
It is important to note that candling is best done in dark conditions, at night, or in a dark closet. Additionally, ensure that your hands are clean and dry when handling the eggs, as oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the egg shell and affect the embryo's oxygen supply.
If you are checking the eggs regularly, it is recommended to candle them up until the last few days of incubation. During the final three days, the chick moves into position to hatch, and disturbing the eggs can be risky.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is a method used to determine whether incubated eggs are fertile or not. It involves shining a bright light into an egg to illuminate its contents.
You can buy specific egg candling devices that look like small flashlights at any poultry supply store. You can also make your own egg candler at home by placing a 60-watt lightbulb inside a coffee can and making a 1-inch-diameter hole in the top. Alternatively, you can use a very bright flashlight and cover the opening with a piece of cardboard with a 1-inch-diameter hole in the middle.
You are looking for a visible network of blood vessels spreading from the center of the egg outwards, which indicates that the embryo is developing properly. If you see a well-defined red circle inside the shell, this is a blood ring, and it means the embryo has died.
A bright and focused light is best for candling eggs. Some specific models suggested by people who have candled eggs include the Convoy C8 with a high-efficiency emitter, the Convoy M21 self-charging side-switch model with a GT-FC40 or 519A in the 5500K temperature range, and the Wowtac a6 edc.
It is recommended to hold the egg in your hand and shine the light on it from the side.
