Chloe Adams
Candling an egg is a simple method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves holding a light source up to an egg to illuminate it, allowing you to see what is developing inside. This process helps identify cracks, bacteria, and non-viable eggs, which can become rotten and explode in the incubator. When candling, you should look for a dark dot, the embryo, and spider-like blood veins spreading around the egg. On day 14, a healthy chick will cause the egg to appear darker with less light passing through, indicating that the chick is filling up the space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day of candling | 3, 6-7, 8, 14 |
| Light | Brighter the better |
| Room | Dark |
| Egg characteristics | Dark spots, spider-like veins, embryo movement, air pocket, clear with no dark spots or blood vessels, vague ring, blood spot, network of blood vessels, brown or speckled eggs |
| Egg status | Fertile, infertile, rotten, clear, undeveloped |
| Equipment | Household torch, egg candler, flashlight, candle |
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What You'll Learn
How to candle an egg
Candling is a simple method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. The process involves shining a bright light through the egg to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term "candling" comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but a strong flashlight or a household torch works just fine today.
- Wash your hands before and after handling eggs. This is important because the oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the egg shell, preventing the embryo from getting the oxygen it needs.
- Use a bright light source in a dark room. Turn off the lights or go into a dark room/closet to improve visibility.
- Place the egg gently against the light source. Gently hold the narrow end of the egg against the light, allowing the light to shine through the egg.
- Observe the inside of the egg. Look for indicators of fertility and development, such as veins and blood vessels.
- Identify fertile eggs by the presence of a dark dot (the embryo) and spider-like blood veins. A fertile egg will show a small dark spot with red veins branching out and a visible air sac.
- Rotate the egg for a better view. Sometimes, the embryo might be harder to see, so gently rotate the egg until you get a clear view.
- Record your observations. It is a good practice to number each egg and make notes on what you see. This helps track progress and identify any issues during incubation.
- Return the egg to the incubator. Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes, but it is best to put them back as soon as possible to maintain optimal conditions.
It is important to note that candling is typically done before and during incubation. Before incubation, candling can help identify cracks in the eggshells, which may lead to bacterial infections. During incubation, candling helps determine fertility and detect early signs of life.
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Indicators of a fertile egg
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It is a straightforward process and can be done using a household torch. However, it is best done in a dark room with bright light.
Day 3
Veins may start to be apparent.
Day 6-7
You will be able to see a dark shape, which is the embryo, and spider-like veins. The embryo can be in the centre or on the opposite side of the egg. If the embryo is against the side of the shell, it will be easier to see and you may even see movement or the heart beating.
Day 8
You can see the chick wiggling and kicking in the egg. The eye is usually visible as the darkest blob. The embryo starts to look more like a chick, with digits on the feet, and the heart enclosed in the thoracic cavity. Feathers also begin to grow.
Day 14
The egg is getting full and it is harder to see inside. The veins are visible beneath the chick. The egg will be mostly dark with less visible light passing through.
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Indicators of an infertile egg
Candling is a process used to determine whether an egg is fertile or infertile. It involves examining the contents of an egg by placing it in a dark room and shining a bright light underneath the large end of the egg.
No Dark Spot or Embryo: When candling an egg, if you do not see a dark spot or any signs of an embryo, it indicates that the egg is likely infertile. You should only be able to see the shape of the yellow yolk without any veins or embryo development.
Lack of Veins: Infertile eggs typically lack the spider-like veins that are visible around the dark spot in fertile eggs. These veins represent the blood vessels and are a sign of a developing embryo.
Clear or Solid White Germ Spot: The germ spot, also known as the germinal disc, is the area on the yolk that indicates fertility. In an infertile egg, this spot will be clear or appear as a solid white spot, containing only the female's cells.
No Development Over Time: Fertile eggs will show progressive development when candled at different stages of incubation. If an egg shows no signs of development and remains unchanged over several days, it is likely infertile.
Vague Ring and Lack of Progress: A vague ring inside the egg, along with little or no veins, can indicate an infertile egg. Additionally, if the egg lags significantly behind others in the hatch, it may be infertile, although this could also be due to viewing angle or other factors.
It is important to note that candling should be done correctly and at specific intervals (such as Day 4, Day 10, and Day 17) to accurately identify infertile eggs and avoid premature removal of viable embryos.
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Indicators of a winner egg
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It is a straightforward process that involves checking the inside of an egg for signs of a growing embryo. Indicators of a "winner" egg—an egg with a successfully developing embryo—include:
- A dark dot: After a week of incubation, a fertile egg will show a dark spot, which indicates the embryo.
- Spider-like veins: The veins will appear to spread out from the embryo in a spider-like shape. These veins become more visible over time and are a good indicator of progress.
- Movement: After about a week, you may be able to see the embryo wiggling and kicking inside the egg.
- Air pocket: As the hatch progresses, the air pocket in the egg should get larger, and the egg will appear darker as it fills with the developing bird.
- Eye: By day 14, the eye of the embryo is usually visible as the darkest "blob" within the egg.
It is important to note that candling requires a dark room and a bright light source. It can be done with a simple household torch or a specialised egg candler.
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Equipment and environment
Candling is a straightforward process that does not require fancy or specific equipment. The main requirement is a bright light source, the brighter the better. The light source should have an opening smaller than the diameter of the eggs. You can buy specific egg candling devices, which look like small flashlights, at any poultry supply store. Alternatively, you can make your own egg candler by placing a 60-watt lightbulb inside a coffee can with a 2.5 cm diameter hole in the top or by using a very bright flashlight covered with a piece of cardboard with a 2.5 cm hole in the middle.
The candling process should be conducted in a dark room to aid in seeing inside the egg. Eggs can be removed from the incubator for up to 30 minutes, but it is best to return them as soon as possible to preserve heat and humidity levels. It is important to work quickly but carefully, being mindful not to drop the egg. It is also important to ensure your hands are clean and dry, as oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell and prevent the embryo from getting oxygen.
While candling, it is a good idea to have pictures or video clips of what to look for inside fertilised and unfertilised eggs. This will help you to identify indicators of progress, such as veins and blood vessels, as well as signs of an egg gone bad, such as a vague ring inside the egg or a distinct blood spot with few veins.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves holding a light source up to the egg to illuminate it so that you can see what is developing inside.
You should look for a dark spot (the embryo) with red or spider-like veins branching out and a visible air sac. If you don't see veins or an air sac, the egg probably isn't developing.
It is recommended to candle at least twice: once after a week of incubation to check for early signs of life, and again after 14 days.
Place your egg in a darkened room and turn on a bright light. Rotate the egg until you get a clear view. If you're still not seeing the embryo clearly, wait another day or two before trying again.
Candling allows you to remove non-viable eggs, which will rot and potentially explode, contaminating other eggs and your incubator. It also helps you monitor humidity settings.
