Brooke Martin
Candling is a method used to check if a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It 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 nowadays, a strong flashlight or LED torch is often used instead. The process is usually done around day 7 of the 21-day incubation period to check for early signs of life, such as a small dark spot (the embryo) with spider-like veins and a visible air sac. Some people also candle again on day 14 to confirm healthy development and remove any non-viable eggs. However, candling too frequently or too close to hatching is not recommended as it can disturb the embryo's development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To check if an egg is fertile and developing properly |
| Timing | On day 7, then again on day 14 |
| Equipment | A bright light source, such as a flashlight or desk lamp |
| Procedure | Shine a light through the egg to see the embryo; mark the eggs with a pencil to monitor progress |
| Embryo Appearance | A small dark spot with spider-like or red veins branching out and a visible air sac |
| Infertile Egg Appearance | Clear inside, no veins or dark spots |
| Humidity | Should be maintained at an average of 45% for chicken eggs |
| Egg Colour | White and light brown eggs are easiest to candle due to lack of pigmentation; dark brown, dark green, olive, and blue eggs are harder |
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What You'll Learn
How to candle an egg
Candling is a 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 as a light source. Today, a strong flashlight or LED torch can be used instead.
- Prepare your workspace: Choose a dark room or turn off the lights to minimize external light sources. Ensure your hands are clean and dry before handling the eggs, as oil from your fingers can affect the embryo's oxygen intake.
- Set up your light source: If using a flashlight or torch, turn it on and set it down so that the light shines upward. Alternatively, you can build your own egg candler by placing a bright low-energy light bulb inside a cardboard box with a small, round hole in the top, just big enough for the pointed end of the egg.
- Examine the eggs: Gently place the narrow end of the egg against the light source. If the egg is fertile, you should see a dark shape (the embryo) with visible veins. Infertile eggs will appear clear, with no veins or dark spots.
- Monitor progress: It is recommended to candle eggs at 7 days and again at 14 days. At day 7, check for early signs of life, such as a small dark spot with red veins and a visible air sac. By day 14, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg, making the interior appear darker with less light passing through.
- Record your findings: Number each egg and make notes on what you observe. This will help you track the progress of each egg throughout incubation.
- Adjust humidity if needed: Compare the size of the air sac in your eggs with a known good egg. If the air sac is too small, the humidity is too high, and if it's too big, the humidity is too low.
- Handle with care: Always return eggs to the same position in the incubator to preserve heat and humidity levels. Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes but should be placed back as soon as possible.
By following these steps, you can effectively candle eggs to monitor the development of your chicks and ensure the quality of your eggs.
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Signs of chick development
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It 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 nowadays, a strong flashlight or LED torch is used.
Day 6-7
On the sixth or seventh day, a fertile egg will show a small dark spot, which is the embryo, with red or spider-like veins branching out and a visible air sac. You might even see a little movement. If you don't see veins or an air sac, it's likely the egg isn't developing.
Day 14
By the second week, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg. Look for a darker interior, less light passing through, and continued movement. If the egg still appears clear or hasn't changed since Day 7, it may not be viable and should be removed.
Day 18
Some sources suggest candling again on Day 18, though it is challenging to see much besides the increasing air sac size at this point, as the egg is mostly filled with a fully developed chick.
It is important to note that dark-shelled eggs, such as Copper Black Marans, can be harder to candle and may require a darker room or a brighter light source. Additionally, it is recommended to maintain proper humidity levels during incubation, as incorrect humidity can cause hatching problems.
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Optimal timing for candling
Candling is a method used to check if a chicken egg is fertile and developing properly. It 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 nowadays, a strong flashlight or a bright low-energy light bulb works just fine.
The optimal timing for candling chicken eggs is typically on days 7 and 14 of the incubation period. On day 7, you can check for early signs of life. A fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red or spider-like veins branching out and a visible air sac. By day 14, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg, making the interior appear darker with less light passing through, and continued movement. If the egg still appears clear or hasn't changed since day 7, it is likely non-viable and should be removed.
It is generally not recommended to candle during the first few days of incubation as it is hard to see anything, and the critical period of embryo development is ongoing. Similarly, candling is not advised during the last few days of incubation as the chick moves into position to hatch, making it difficult to see inside the egg.
While days 7 and 14 are the most common candling times, some sources suggest additional checks on days 10 and 18. On day 10, you can monitor the progress of embryo development, and on day 18, you can check for any hatching problems caused by incorrect incubation humidity. However, it is important to note that by day 18, the chick is already positioning itself to emerge, so the visibility inside the egg is limited.
In summary, for optimal candling timing, it is best to candle chicken eggs on days 7 and 14, with optional additional checks on days 10 and 18, depending on your preferences and the specific circumstances of your flock.
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How to build an egg candler
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It 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 nowadays, a strong flashlight or a bright low-energy light bulb works just fine.
To build your own egg candler, you can use a simple setup with a cardboard box or a metal can with a lid, such as a candy container or a coffee can. Here are the detailed instructions for both methods:
Cardboard Box Method:
- Place a desk lamp with a bright low-energy light bulb inside a cardboard box.
- Cut a small, round hole in the top of the box, just large enough for the pointed end of an egg.
- Alternatively, you can use modern LED torches that don't emit much heat as an excellent light source.
Metal Can Method:
- Take a good-sized metal can with a lid, such as a candy container or a coffee can.
- Position an ordinary light fixture inside the can and secure it in place with mounting holes and small nuts and bolts.
- Make an opening in the bottom of the can for the light's electric cord and attach an electric plug to the free end of the wire.
- Cut a porthole of about 1.5 inches in diameter in the lid of the can for illuminating the eggs.
- Optionally, glue a 2.25-inch diameter cork gasket around the opening to prevent eggs from cracking if they bump against the can during examination.
- Cut out a lid for the metal can from heavy cardboard, slightly larger than the can.
- Make a hole in the centre of the cardboard, about the size of a toilet paper roll, and tape the cardboard and the can together.
- The toilet paper roll will support most eggs and allow you to roll them for inspection.
- For smaller eggs, support them with your finger so they don't fall through the hole.
Once you have constructed your egg candler, you can use it to check for fertility and development. On day 7, a fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. By day 14, a healthy chick should take up most of the egg, making the interior darker with less light passing through, and you should be able to observe continued movement.
It is important to note that candling is best done between days 7 and 14 of incubation. The first few days of incubation are critical for embryo development, so it is advisable not to disturb the eggs during this time. Additionally, in the last few days before hatching, the chick is positioning itself to emerge, so candling is not recommended during this period.
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How to tell if an egg is fertile
To tell if an egg is fertile, candling is a commonly used method. Candling involves holding the egg up to a bright light source in a dark room to see what's going on inside the egg without cracking it open. The term "candling" comes from the traditional practice of using candles, but nowadays, a strong flashlight or a modern LED torch can be used.
When candling, a fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. On the other hand, an infertile egg will appear clear, with no veins or dark spots. It is important to note that dark-shelled eggs, such as Marans or Welsummer Eggs, are much harder to see through, so a brighter light source is required. Additionally, it is recommended to candle after 7 days of incubation to check for early signs of life, and again at 14 days. By day 14, a healthy chick should occupy most of the egg, with a darker interior and less light passing through.
Another way to determine fertility is by examining the germ spot, also known as the germinal disc, on the yolk of a cracked-open egg. In an unfertilized egg, the germ spot contains only the female's cells and appears as a solid white spot. In contrast, a fertilized egg's germ spot contains both female and male cells, resulting in a circle with a somewhat clear centre due to cell division and growth.
It is worth noting that some people choose to discard eggs that aren't developing to prevent potential risks to other chicks and eggs. However, it can be challenging to determine whether an egg is viable, especially for beginners. Therefore, it is recommended to refer to videos and pictures of egg candling at different stages to help identify the expected characteristics of a developing egg.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to candle eggs after 7 days of incubation to check for early signs of life and again at 14 days to remove any eggs with embryos that have died.
A fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red or spider-like veins branching out and a visible air sac.
Wash your hands before handling the eggs and use a bright light source in a dark room. Place the narrow end of the egg gently against the light, with the pointed end facing downwards.
