Brooke Martin
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents. It is used to check whether an egg is fertilised and whether the embryo is developing as it should. This process is useful for people who are incubating eggs and want to test whether an egg is good enough to go into the incubator. It is also used to check for hairline cracks, blood spots, or other undesirable contents. Candling eggs at regular intervals can help prevent surprises down the road, such as non-viable eggs that will potentially become rotten and explode, contaminating other fertile eggs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Candling is the name given to looking at the inside of a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. |
| Purpose | To test whether an egg is good enough quality to go into the incubator and to see whether the embryo is developing as it should. |
| Timing | Candling can be done before incubation and at different stages during incubation. It is recommended to candle eggs before placing them in the incubator to establish a baseline. The first candling after incubation can take place 6-8 days after they are placed in the incubator. The final candling takes place about a week later. |
| Frequency | Eggs can be candled every day, but it is not recommended to candle every day once they are in the incubator. |
| Duration | Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes but should be kept outside for as little as 5-10 minutes. |
| Environment | Candling should be done in a dark or dimly lit room. |
| Equipment | A bright light source such as a household torch or a Cool-Lite Tester. |
| Egg Handling | Eggs should be handled gently, with clean and dry hands to avoid transferring bacteria to the eggs. The pointed end of the egg should face downwards. |
| Indicators of Normal Development | Veins and blood vessels that continue to grow and spread. Movement of the embryo can be seen around 8 days. The air pocket in the egg should get larger, and the egg will get darker as it is filled with more bird. |
| Indicators of Abnormal Development | A vague ring inside the egg, little or no veins, a very distinct blood spot, lack of development compared to other eggs. |
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What You'll Learn
How to candle eggs: the process
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents. It is used to check the quality of eggs before they are placed in an incubator and to monitor the development of the embryo during incubation.
To candle an egg, you will need a dark room, a bright light source, and the egg itself. Wash your hands before you begin to avoid transferring bacteria to the egg. Place the egg on a soft surface, such as a towel or blanket, with the pointed end facing downwards. This will reduce the chance of the egg smashing if it is accidentally dropped. Turn off the lights and hold the light against the bigger end of the egg, where the air sac forms. Rotate the egg slightly to get the best view of its contents.
You can candle eggs at regular intervals, but it is important to work quickly and minimise the time the egg is out of the incubator. Eggs can be left outside the incubator for up to 30 minutes, but it is best to return them sooner to maintain their temperature. The ideal time to candle eggs is between days 5 and 7 of incubation. At this stage, you can identify any eggs that are not developing and remove them from the incubator.
During candling, look out for signs of a healthy egg, such as veins and blood vessels, which indicate that the embryo is growing. A clear egg without these signs is unlikely to develop. You can also identify non-viable eggs by looking for hairline cracks, blood spots, or other undesirable contents.
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When to candle eggs for sale
If you are selling eggs for hatching/incubating, it is recommended to wait 3–7 days before candling them. This is because veins may start to become apparent by day 3, and these are the best indicators of progress. By day 8, you should be able to see the chick wiggling and kicking in the egg.
However, if you are selling eggs for consumption and want to check for fertilisation, you can candle the eggs right after collecting them from the nesting boxes. This is because fertilised eggs are completely edible and will not develop into chicks unless kept at a temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Therefore, they will not be developing inside your fridge or on your counter.
It is important to note that candling is not necessary for selling eggs for consumption, as fertile eggs are safe to eat. Additionally, if you are gathering eggs daily, they have not had time to become embryos, so candling is unnecessary.
Finally, it is recommended to candle eggs just before selling them, as storage can change the status of the air cell.
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What to look for when candling
Candling eggs is a straightforward process, but it helps to know what you're looking for. If you're candling before incubation, you're looking for cracks that might allow bacteria to enter during incubation. Cracked eggs are likely to become infected, causing the embryos to die prematurely. During incubation, candling can be used to identify fertile eggs and remove non-viable ones (infertile or early death), which may otherwise rot and explode, contaminating other eggs and the incubator.
After a week of incubation, place your egg on an egg candler in a darkened room and turn on the light. You should be able to see shadows from inside the egg. With practice, you will be able to identify fertile eggs by the dark dot, the embryo, and the spider-like blood veins spreading out around the egg. Sometimes, it can be hard to see the embryo, so you may need to rotate the egg until you get a better view. If you're still not seeing it clearly, then it's best to wait another day or two before trying again. If the embryo is up against the side of the shell, it will be much easier to see, and if you look carefully, you may even see movement or the heart beating!
After a week of incubation, if an egg is fertile, you will see the embryo starting to develop as a dark spot with spider-like veins stretching out around it. By day 8, you should be able to see the chick wiggling and kicking in its egg. As the hatch progresses, the air pocket in the egg should get larger, and the egg will get darker as it is filled with more bird.
Signs of a bad egg include a vague ring inside the egg and little or no veins, a very distinct blood spot with little or no veins, and a lack of development compared to the rest of the eggs in the hatch. However, don't give up on eggs that appear to be behind in development—they may just be at a difficult viewing angle or subject to other factors.
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How to prepare eggs for candling
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents. It is a good way to check for cracks, blood spots, or other undesirable contents. It is important to prepare properly to avoid damaging the eggs.
Firstly, wash your hands to minimise the risk of transferring bacteria to the eggs. Then, choose your light source. You can use a candle, as in the traditional method, but this is unstable and very hot, and risks cooking the egg. Instead, you could use a bright torch, a halogen bulb, or a purpose-made egg candling device.
Next, you need to choose your location. You should candle eggs in a dark room or closet, to make it easier to see inside the egg. You should also ensure that the room is quiet and that you will be undisturbed. If children are present, make sure they avoid sudden movements.
Finally, remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time. Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes, but it is best to put them back as soon as possible, as the longer they are out, the quicker the embryo's heart rate will cool. Always candle with the pointed end of the egg facing downwards.
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How to avoid common mistakes
To avoid common mistakes when candling eggs for sale, follow these steps:
Firstly, it is important to understand what candling is and when to do it. Candling is shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents and check for fertility, embryo development, and any cracks. The best time to candle eggs is between days 3 and 8, as veins and blood vessels will be visible, indicating progress.
One mistake to avoid is not candling eggs before placing them in the incubator. This initial candling helps establish a baseline for comparison later on and identify any cracks that could allow bacteria to enter and cause embryo death. It is also important to candle eggs regularly, as this can help save surprises down the road. Identify "winners" (fertilized and properly developing eggs) by looking for a network of blood vessels that appear white, with a dark outline at the centre indicating the embryo.
Another mistake to avoid is not creating the proper environment for candling. Ensure you have a dark or dimly lit room, a bright light source, and a soft surface to candle on, such as a towel or blanket. Wash your hands before handling the eggs to minimise bacteria transfer, and work quickly to avoid the eggs cooling down too much.
Additionally, avoid jolting or disturbing the eggs during the process. Always candle with the pointed end facing downwards, and remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time. Keep the eggs out of the incubator for no longer than 5-10 minutes to prevent the embryos from cooling down too much.
Finally, do not store washed eggs in the refrigerator. Washing eggs removes the antibacterial coating, or "bloom", that the hen naturally leaves on the eggs. Instead, store unwashed eggs on shelves at room temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is when a bright light is shone into an egg to see its contents. It is used to check if an egg is fertilised and if the embryo is developing as it should.
It is recommended to candle eggs before placing them in the incubator. This will help establish a baseline to compare against later. The next candling should take place 6-8 days after they are placed in the incubator. The final candling takes place about a week later.
You will need a dark room, a bright light, and the egg. Remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time and work quickly. Place the light on the bigger end of the egg where the air sac forms. Rotate it slightly to get the best view of the inside of the egg.
