Ben Carter
Egg candling is the process of shining a bright light into an egg to determine its fertility and development without breaking the shell. It is a cheap and easy way to check on the progress of an egg's development and can be done using a simple flashlight or a high-tech Ovascope. While candling can be an addictive experience, it is important to minimise the number of times it is done to avoid disrupting humidity levels and potentially harming the eggs. This article will explore the benefits and drawbacks of candling eggs and provide a guide on when and how to do it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To check if an egg is fertile, to see what is happening inside the egg, to check for cracks, no yolks, double yolks, and damaged air sacs |
| Timing | Best done after 7 days of incubation, can be done every day after day 3, should not be done after day 16 or 17 |
| How to do it | Hold the egg upright and bring a flashlight right underneath it, hold the egg near the top, tilt and rotate until you get the best view |
| What to look for | A dark spot surrounded by blood vessels indicates a viable egg, a clear egg is infertile, a ring of red blood indicates the embryo died, a cloudy-looking dark spot with an increased number of blood vessels indicates a developing egg |
| Precautions | Keep eggs out of the incubator for a maximum of 5-30 minutes, wash hands and flashlight before handling eggs, do not candle eggs all at once, do not candle eggs under a broody hen |
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What You'll Learn
Candling eggs is a cheap and easy way to check fertility and progress
The best time to candle eggs is after they have been in the incubator for 7 to 10 days. This allows any early deaths to occur, and for signs of development to become apparent. Before this, it can be difficult to distinguish between good and bad eggs. By day seven, a fertilized egg should have a dark spot surrounded by blood vessels, while an unfertilized egg will appear clear.
It is important to keep the eggs clean and sanitary during the candling process, as egg shells are porous and can be contaminated by dirty hands or equipment. It is also recommended to candle eggs in a dark room, and to only keep them out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes to avoid disrupting the humidity and temperature.
Candling can be done multiple times throughout the incubation process, but it is important to minimise the number of times the incubator is opened. In addition to checking fertility, candling can be used to monitor the progress of the embryo, check for any abnormalities, and get a final weight for the eggs.
Overall, candling is a useful and inexpensive way for breeders to check on the progress of their incubating eggs and improve the chances of successful hatching.
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How to candle eggs: a step-by-step guide
Candling eggs is a neat, cheap, and easy way to see what's happening inside an egg. It involves shining a bright light into the egg to see if it is alive without breaking the shell.
Step 1: Prepare the eggs
Before candling, ensure the eggs are clean and dry. Oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell and keep the embryo from getting the oxygen it needs. It is also important to note that you should not candle eggs all at once. Plan to candle a few at a time to avoid keeping the eggs out of the incubator for too long.
Step 2: Set up your lighting
Although people used to candle eggs using an actual candle, you can now use a variety of lighting tools. You can use a bare lightbulb or a flashlight, or buy a specialised candling tool like the Cool-Lite Tester from GQF Manufacturing, which minimises handling time and reduces the risk of dropping or cracking the eggshell. If you want to make your own candler, you can follow these instructions from myborealhomesteadlife.com:
> "To build the homemade egg candler, I drilled a hole in the side of the metal can through which I threaded a two-wire electrical chord. I put a two-prong plug on the end outside of the can and on the inside I used a standard electrical socket and an 8-sided electrical box. Wire the socket by attaching the bared wires to the two spots on the back of the socket and attach the socket to the electrical box. The electrical socket and box do free float in the can but I drilled two holes in the bottom of the can to allow for the electrical box set screws to rest in. You could take those out and permanently attach the electrical box to the metal can, I just never did. The light bulb wattage is an important consideration. As you can imagine, it can get warm inside the homemade egg candler so for the longest time I used a small 40 W appliance bulb and then switched to a 40 W round chandelier bulb.
>
> To finish off my homemade egg candler I cut out a lid for the metal can out of a piece of heavy cardboard a bit bigger than the metal can. In the centre of the cardboard I cut a hole the size of a toilet paper roll. I taped the two components together using duct tape. The toilet paper roll will hold 99% of the eggs up so that you can roll the egg around to inspect it. For the smaller eggs, I just support it with my finger so it does not fall through the hole."
Step 3: Candle the eggs
Place the egg over the light source to illuminate the inside of the egg. If the inside of the egg is clear and free from visible structures or dark areas, the egg is likely infertile or the embryo died very early. If you see a ring of red blood, there was an embryo at some point, but it has died. A single dark spot may indicate that the embryo died around the 8-day mark. If you can see a spider web of blood vessels within the egg, there is a live embryo inside.
Step 4: Know the timing
The best time to candle eggs is after they have been in the incubator for 7 to 10 days. The embryo is very fragile during the first week, so it is important to wait until after this critical period has passed. You can candle eggs every day if you like, but it is recommended to candle them no more than three times.
Step 5: Handle with care
Be sure to always handle hatching eggs with very clean hands. Over-handling can increase the potential for an egg to get contaminated, which can create dead chicks or an egg that could explode in the incubator.
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The best time to candle eggs
Candling is a process that involves shining a bright light into an egg to determine its fertility and the level of development of the embryo. It is a cheap and easy way to see what is happening inside the egg without breaking the shell.
The best time to candle an egg is after it has been in the incubator for 7 to 10 days. The embryo is very fragile during the first week, so it is advisable to wait until this critical period has passed. After 7 days of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo. By 10 days, you will be able to see what is going on more clearly, and you can perform a ""sniff test" to detect any bad or rotten eggs.
It is recommended to candle eggs again at 14 days to remove any eggs with embryos that have died and reduce the risk of a rotten egg exploding. At this stage, you may be able to see blood vessels close to the shell.
Some people also choose to candle eggs a third time at 18 days to cull any other quitters or bad eggs before lockdown. However, it is not recommended to candle eggs during the last few days of incubation as the chick is positioning itself to hatch, and opening the incubator can affect the humidity and potentially harm the chicks.
It is important to note that the colour of the egg can impact the visibility of veins and embryos during candling. Dark brown eggs, for example, can be very difficult to candle, even in a darkened room.
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Potential risks of egg candling
Egg candling is a straightforward process that can be performed at home with a simple setup. It involves shining a bright light into an egg to illuminate its interior, allowing you to determine its fertility and the level of embryonic development. While it is an informative process, there are some potential risks to consider:
Risk of Contamination
Over-handling eggs during the candling process can increase the risk of contamination. This can happen if the eggs come into contact with dirty hands, a sneeze, or other sources of bacteria. Contaminated egg shells can lead to the death of chicks or the development of rotten eggs, which may explode inside the incubator. Therefore, it is crucial to handle hatching eggs with clean hands and minimise the frequency of candling to reduce the potential for contamination.
Disruption to Incubator Conditions
Opening the incubator frequently to candle eggs can disrupt the temperature and humidity within. This can create challenges in maintaining the optimal environment for embryonic development. Additionally, excessive handling of eggs increases the risk of dropping or cracking them, further compromising the success of hatching.
Misinterpretation and Inaccuracy
While candling can provide insights into embryonic development, it is not a fail-safe method. It requires careful observation and interpretation, and even then, there may be uncertainties. Additionally, dark-shelled eggs can be more difficult to candle accurately, even in a darkened room, due to the challenge of adequately illuminating their interiors.
Stress and Disruption to Brooding Hens
For those hatching eggs under a brooding hen, frequent candling can be disruptive to the hen's natural brooding behaviour. It is recommended to minimise disruptions and visually inspect the eggs when the hen briefly leaves her nest to feed.
Potential for Over-Candling
Egg candling can be an addictive experience, leading to excessive candling sessions. This not only increases the risks mentioned above but can also cause unnecessary stress to the embryos and impact their development. It is important to follow recommended candling schedules and exercise restraint to avoid over-candling.
In conclusion, while egg candling can provide valuable insights, it is important to be aware of these potential risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate their impact. Following recommended practices, maintaining hygiene, and respecting the natural processes can help improve the chances of successful hatching.
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High-tech candling methods
Candling is a critical practice in commercial hatcheries to ensure the highest possible hatch rates, optimize hatchery operations, and produce healthy chicks. While candling was traditionally done with a candle, modern methods involve the use of advanced technology and equipment.
One high-tech method is the use of automated mass-scanning equipment, which detects eggs with cracked shells and internal defects. This equipment utilizes computerized integrated cameras and sound wave technology to segregate defective eggs. Manual scanning is also sometimes used, where eggs are passed over a light source from above or below to identify defects.
Another high-tech option for candling eggs is the Ovascope. This device has a rotating stand for the egg, which is then covered by a hood to block out ambient light. The user can then view the egg through an eyepiece, which magnifies the egg slightly for easier inspection.
In addition, there are now candling tables that illuminate entire trays of eggs, as well as automatic candling equipment, which have been developed to improve efficiency and accuracy. These technologies can help identify non-viable eggs and potential issues, contributing to higher hatch rates and healthier chicks.
Furthermore, sensors like the SwitchBot Sensor can be used to monitor the humidity and temperature of incubators. This sensor connects to the internet via Bluetooth and a Mini-Hub, allowing users to receive notifications and view sensor data remotely.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is a way to see what is happening inside an egg. It involves shining a bright light into the egg, illuminating its interior so you can see what is inside the shell.
Candling can be used to check the progress of an egg's development, and to see if an egg is fertile and will hatch. It can also be used to identify any abnormalities that might prevent an egg from hatching, such as cracks or a missing yolk.
It is recommended to candle eggs twice: once at 7-10 days to check fertility and remove infertile or dead eggs, and again at 14-18 days before hatching. You can candle eggs as early as day 3, but before day 7, it can be difficult to distinguish between good and bad eggs.
