Jessie Taylor
Candling eggs is the process of shining a light through them to check their viability and development. It is typically done seven days after placing the eggs in an incubator. During candling, you can identify clear eggs, which are infertile, and viable, fertile eggs, which will have a dark dot, an embryo, and spider-like blood veins. While it is tempting to candle eggs often, it is generally recommended to limit candling to a few specific times, such as before placing the eggs in the incubator and on days 7 and 18 of incubation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Days to candle eggs | Day 3, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 18 |
| What to look for | Air cells, embryo, veins, dark dot, air sac |
| Colour of eggs | White and light-coloured shells are easier to candle than brown eggs |
| Equipment | Hand-held or flat-surfaced candlers, basic flashlight, specialised equipment |
| Egg position | Large end of the egg against the candler |
| Room | Darkened room |
| Humidity | Avoid candling during the first and last few days of incubation |
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What You'll Learn
How to candle eggs
Candling eggs is a simple process that involves shining a bright light into an egg to see its insides. It is a crucial process as it helps identify fertilised eggs and monitor the development of potential embryos. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to candle eggs:
Prepare the Room and the Eggs
Candle your eggs in a dark or dimly lit room. Before you begin, wash your hands to minimise the risk of transferring bacteria to the eggs. Remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time and work quickly to avoid temperature fluctuations that may harm the embryos. The egg should be out of the incubator for no longer than 5-10 minutes.
Position the Egg and the Light
Place the egg on the egg candler with the large end, where the air cell is, against the light source. If using a hand-held candler, ensure the light is on the bigger end of the egg. Rotate the egg slightly to get the best seal and view of its insides.
Identify the "Winners" and "Yolkers"
Look for a network of blood vessels that appear white and a dark outline at the centre, which is the embryo. You may even see the embryo's dark eyes or slight movement. These indicate a ""winner", a fertilised egg with a developing embryo. If you see neither veins nor a dark embryo, it is a "yolker", an unfertilised egg.
Remove Unviable Eggs
If you identify any "yolkers" or "quitters" (fertilised eggs that stopped developing), remove them from the incubator. Unviable eggs can rot and explode, creating a mess and exposing good eggs to bacteria. It is generally recommended to candle eggs a maximum of two to three times: before placing them in the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs remain.
Additional Tips
Practise candling on unfertilised eggs to get comfortable with the process. You can also candle eggs on days 3, 7, and 14, but veins may not be visible until day 6 or 7. Remember to limit handling and avoid opening the incubator frequently to maintain stable conditions for embryo development.
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When to candle eggs
The best time to candle eggs depends on the type of egg and the equipment used. For white and light-colored eggs, candling can be done as early as day 3 of incubation, but veins may not be visible until day 6 or 7. For brown eggs, a super bright light is needed to see inside the egg, so candling is usually done after a week of incubation.
On day 7, a viable, fertile egg will show an embryo in the middle and spider-like veins stretching out into the yolk. By day 14, non-viable eggs can be removed to lessen the risk of a rotten egg exploding.
It is generally recommended to candle eggs a maximum of two or three times: once before placing an egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs remain in the hatcher.
Candling can also be done every day, but it is important to limit egg handling as much as possible. The less an egg is handled, the better. It is also important to note that the first few days of incubation are critical to the embryo’s development, so it is best not to disturb the eggs during this time. Similarly, the last few days of incubation are not recommended for candling as the chick moves into position to hatch.
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What to look for when candling eggs
The candling process involves holding a light source up to an egg to illuminate it and check for cracks, fertility, and development. It is recommended to candle eggs on days 7 and 14 of their 21-day incubation period.
On day 7, you should be able to identify a viable, fertile egg by observing the following:
- A dark spot, which indicates the embryo
- Spider-like veins stretching out into the yolk, supplying nutrients
- An air sac
If you do not see veins or an air sac, the egg is likely not developing.
On day 14, a healthy chick will have grown and filled most of the space inside the egg, resulting in a darker interior with less light passing through. You should also continue to look for movement. If the egg still appears clear or unchanged from day 7, it is likely non-viable and should be removed.
In general, a fertilized egg will show a network of veins coming out of a dark blob close to the center of the egg. If the egg is infertile, it will appear clear, without any veins or a dark spot.
Additionally, it is important to monitor the size of the air cell or air sac. If it is trending large, increase humidity, and if it is trending small, decrease humidity. Abnormalities in the air cell's position can also occur, so ensure it is positioned correctly.
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How to handle eggs during incubation
The first few days of incubation are critical to the embryo's development, so it is advisable not to disturb the eggs during this time. However, it is important to ensure that the incubator is set up correctly before placing the eggs inside. This includes maintaining a constant temperature and humidity level and locating the incubator in a draft-free area away from windows and direct sunlight.
Once the incubator is ready, the eggs can be placed inside. It is recommended to mark an 'X' on one side of each egg and an 'O' on the other to help visualise that they have been turned properly and frequently. If you do not have an automatic turner, the eggs should be turned by hand at least every eight hours during the first 17 days. Better hatch rates are usually achieved with more frequent turning, but every time the incubator is opened, heat and humidity are lost.
During the incubation process, it is important to limit your handling of the eggs. It is generally recommended to candle an egg no more than two or three times: once before placing it into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs go into a hatcher.
When candling eggs, place the large end of the egg, where the air cell is, against the candler in a darkened room. If the egg is fertilised, you will see a network of veins coming out of a dark blob close to the centre of the egg. If the egg is unfertilised, you will only see the yolk's shadow inside without the embryo or veins.
In summary, to handle eggs during incubation, it is important to maintain the correct temperature and humidity levels in the incubator, turn the eggs frequently, limit handling, and candle judiciously to check on development.
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How to prepare for hatching
The first step in preparing for hatching is to ensure that your incubator is set up correctly. Clean the incubator with a 10% bleach solution, followed by warm soapy water, and then thoroughly rinse it. Once the incubator is clean and dry, turn it on and check that the temperature and humidity levels are constant. Place the incubator in an area with steady ambient temperatures and no risk of drafts.
The next step is to obtain fertilized eggs. Fertilized eggs can be obtained from poultry farmers with roosters in their flocks or from a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)-certified flock. Prior to incubation, fertilized eggs can be stored for a maximum of seven days in a cool room at a steady temperature of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid abruptly warming the eggs, as this can cause moisture condensation, leading to reduced hatch rates and potential disease. Instead, allow the eggs to warm slowly to room temperature before placing them in the incubator.
Once the eggs are in the incubator, maintain a suitable humidity level. The ideal humidity level for hatching eggs is still debated, but it is generally recommended not to fall below 25% or exceed 60% between setting and the three days prior to hatching. During the last three days, the "lockdown" period, increase the humidity level to between 70-80%.
It is also important to turn the eggs regularly during the incubation period. If your incubator has an automatic egg turner, it will take care of the turning for you. If not, you will need to manually turn the eggs at least 2-3 times per day, and ideally 4-5 times per day. Place the eggs horizontally with the large end slightly elevated, and mark them with an "X" on one side and an "O" on the other to keep track of turning. Be very gentle when turning the eggs, especially during the first week, as the embryos have delicate blood vessels that can rupture easily.
On day 7, candle the eggs to check for development. Place the large end of the egg, where the air cell is, against the candler in a darkened room. If the egg is fertilized, you will see a network of veins coming out of a dark blob close to the center of the egg. If the egg is unfertilized, remove it from the incubator, as unfertilized eggs can rot and explode.
On day 18, remove the automatic egg turner if you have one, and stop turning the eggs manually. The chicks are now getting into position for hatching and no longer need to be turned.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to candle eggs on days 3, 7, and 14.
On day 3, you may see a tiny bean-shaped embryo with the starting of vessels. However, it is common to only see air cells at this stage.
On day 7, a viable, fertile egg will have an embryo in the middle, and spider-like veins stretching out into the yolk. If the egg is infertile, you will only see the yolk's shadow without the embryo or veins.
While you can candle eggs every day, it is generally recommended to limit candling to two or three times: once before placing an egg into the incubator, on day 7 to check for development, and on day 18 to ensure only viable eggs go into a hatcher.
The simplest way to candle an egg is with a basic flashlight, but there are specialized pieces of equipment designed specifically for candling. Candlers can be hand-held or sit on a flat surface. Place the large end of the egg, where the air cell is, against the candler in a darkened room, and turn on the light.
