Brooke Martin
Candling is a process used to determine whether an egg is fertile or not. It involves illuminating the interior of an egg to observe its contents and check for signs of an embryo. This is done by shining a bright light into the egg, usually in a dark room, to reveal the presence of a network of blood vessels, a dark dot, and spider-like veins, indicating a developing embryo. The process is typically performed after a few days of incubation, and it helps identify viable eggs and remove non-viable or infertile ones, reducing the risk of contamination and unpleasant odours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Days of incubation before candling | 7 |
| Room lighting | Darkened room |
| Egg placement | Large end of the egg facing the light |
| Embryo development signs | Dark spot around the middle of the egg, with spider-like veins |
| Non-fertile egg signs | Shape of the yolk without veins or an embryo |
| Equipment | A bright light |
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What You'll Learn
Incubate eggs for a few days before candling
To identify whether an egg is fertile, candling is a common method used. Candling involves shining a bright light through an egg to illuminate its contents. It is recommended to incubate eggs for a few days before candling. This is because eggs have an egg bloom that allows them to be kept at room temperature for extended periods, and it takes time for the egg to cool down after being laid. During this cooling period, the germinal disc grows to around 5mm across, containing 40,000-60,000 cells.
When incubating eggs, it is important to maintain the correct humidity, as this can impact the development of the embryo. After a few days of incubation, you can candle the eggs to identify whether they are fertile. On day 4, you may see blood pumping through the heart of a developing embryo, indicating fertility. By day 7, a viable, fertile egg will show an embryo and spider-like veins stretching out into the yolk.
To candle eggs effectively, set up your candling equipment in a dark room, as this will allow you to see inside the egg more clearly. Hold the egg above the light, with the larger end (where the air sac is) directly against the light. Rotate the egg slightly to one side and tilt it until you get the best view. Mark each egg and take notes on your findings so that you can compare results over time.
It is important to note that some eggs may appear clear even if they are fertile, as it can take time for the embryo to develop. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid candling after day 16 or 17, as the embryos will have developed significantly, and constant movement can negatively affect their development.
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Shine a bright light into the egg
Candling is the method used to determine whether incubated eggs are fertile or not. The process involves shining a bright light into an egg to see inside it. This allows you to observe the developing embryo inside the shell and identify any non-viable eggs.
To candle an egg, you will need a bright light source. While candles were traditionally used for this purpose, modern alternatives include ultra-bright torches or LED flashlights. If you are on a budget, you can even make your own candler by placing a desk lamp with a bright, low-energy light bulb inside a cardboard box with a small hole cut out for the egg. Dark shelled eggs will require a brighter light source, and it is recommended to candle in a dark room or at night to get a better view.
When candling an egg, hold the light up to the egg or place it inside a box with a hole for the egg to rest on. Use your hand to create a good seal between the light source and the egg to prevent light from escaping. By doing this, you should be able to observe the contents of the egg, including any signs of development such as veins, a heartbeat, or an eye.
It is important to note that the brightness of the light source can affect the embryo's development, particularly the eyes. Therefore, it is recommended to use a torch or flashlight that does not emit much heat, such as an LED flashlight, and to avoid shining extremely bright lights directly into dark-colored eggs. Additionally, maintain the temperature of the egg during candling and do not keep it out of the incubator for an extended period.
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Identify a 'winner' by looking for a network of blood vessels
Candling is a method to determine whether an egg is fertile or not. The process involves illuminating the interior of an egg to observe its contents. To candle an egg, hold it up to a bright light or a candle in a darkened room and observe its insides.
Fertile eggs will have a network of blood vessels that can be seen branching out from the center of the egg. These blood vessels are supplying blood to the embryo and indicate that the egg is fertile and the embryo is developing properly. The embryo itself may be visible as an opaque, dark shape or shadow, and you may even be able to observe movement within the egg.
If the egg is infertile, it will appear fairly clear, with no visible blood vessels, spots, or movement. The yolk may appear solid, and the egg may look clear. Infertile eggs are sometimes referred to as "yolkers" or "quitters."
It is important to note that candling should be done carefully, as it is easy to rupture the yolk. Additionally, it is recommended to only candle eggs twice, as removing the egg from incubation more than this can reduce the chances of the embryo surviving.
Other methods to test for fertility include cracking the egg open to look for a “bullseye" pattern or observing the egg for 14 to 21 days to see if it hatches. However, cracking the egg will mean you can no longer incubate it, and observing the egg for an extended period may result in a rotten egg if it is infertile.
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Identify a 'yolker' by looking for a clear egg with no dark spots
To identify a yolker, you need to candle the egg. This involves illuminating the interior of the egg so you can see what is inside the shell. The term comes from the past when people used candles to see into the egg. Today, you can use a high-powered flashlight or an Ovascope. The process is best done in a darkened room with a bright light source.
To identify a yolker, you are looking for a clear egg with no dark spots. A yolker is an egg that was never fertilized and will not develop an embryo. You will see the yolk with no red blood vessels. If you see a thin ring of blood around the yolk, this is a 'quitter' – an egg that was fertilized but the embryo stopped developing. A fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. You may even see movement.
It is important to identify and remove yolkers and quitters during incubation, as they can begin to rot and burst inside the incubator, contaminating the other eggs with bacteria.
It is worth noting that it can be difficult to distinguish between a healthy embryo and a 'quitter' at an early stage. It is recommended to incubate for a few days and then candle the egg to check for signs of life.
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Identify a 'quitter' by looking for a blood ring
"Quitters" are fertilized eggs that stop developing during incubation. They are identified by a well-defined red circle on the inside of the shell, known as a blood ring. This occurs when the embryo dies, and the blood vessels of the embryo separate from it, resting against the inside of the eggshell.
The blood ring is a distinctive sight, with the blood vessels forming a circle that spans the circumference of the egg. It is important to identify and remove quitter eggs from the incubator, as they can start to rot and explode, spreading bacteria to other eggs.
To identify a quitter, use the candling method, which involves shining a light through the egg to observe its interior. This can be done with a candle, a flashlight, or a specialized tool like an Ovascope or Cool-Lite Tester. After a week of incubation, place the egg on an egg candler in a darkened room and turn on the light. You should be able to observe shadows and identify quitters by the presence of a blood ring.
In addition to candling, some physical signs of a quitter egg include cracks in the shell, an opaque appearance due to bacteria growth, and a slight smell. However, these methods may not be as accurate as candling, and it is important to remove non-viable eggs promptly to maintain the health of the remaining embryos.
By regularly candling your eggs and identifying quitters through the presence of a blood ring, you can ensure the successful hatching of healthy chicks and avoid potential issues caused by rotten eggs.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling involves shining a bright light into an egg to illuminate its interior and check for signs of development.
You need to incubate an egg for at least a few days before you can candle it. Some sources recommend waiting for around a week before candling.
A fertile egg will have a visible network of blood vessels spreading from the centre outwards. You may also see a dark spot in the middle of the egg, with some spider-like veins beginning to form around it. If you're lucky, you may even see the embryo moving or its heart beating!
An infertile egg will look fairly clear, with no visible dark spots, blood vessels or blood rings. You should only be able to see the shape of the yolk inside the egg.
You don't need any fancy equipment for candling. In the past, people used to do it with the flame from a candle (hence the name). Today, you can use a simple candling device or even a bright light in a darkened room.
