Chloe Adams
Candling is the process of shining a bright light against the shell of an egg to see what's going on inside. It's a useful way to check on the development of an egg during incubation. The best time to candle an egg is in a completely dark room, and it's recommended that you candle an egg no more than two or three times: once before placing an egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to make sure that only viable eggs go into a hatcher.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is candling? | The process of shining a bright light against the shell of an egg to see what's going on inside |
| What is candling used for? | To check for embryo development, micro-cracks in the shell, and the humidity of the incubator |
| How often should eggs be candled? | It's recommended to candle eggs no more than two or three times: once before placing an egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to make sure that only viable eggs go into a hatcher |
| How to candle eggs | Place the egg candler at the top of the egg (pointy end down) at a slight angle in a dark room. Avoid bumping or jostling the egg |
| What to look for | Blood vessels, embryo development, air cells, and yolk positioning |
| What to do with unfertilized eggs | Remove unfertilized eggs from the incubator as they can rot and give off gases that can affect the other eggs |
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What You'll Learn
How to candle eggs
Candling is a process that involves examining the contents of an egg by placing it against a bright light. It is called candling because the bright light was once furnished by candles. This process is done to determine the age of the eggs and to find imperfections such as hairline cracks, thin spots, and double yolks.
To candle an egg, you will need a bright light source, such as a flashlight or a desk lamp with a bright low-energy light bulb. You can also use modern LED torches that do not give off much heat or a battery-operated OvaScope. If you are using a flashlight, you can cut a hole in a piece of cardboard and tape it over the light to narrow the beam.
Hold the egg at a slight angle, with the large end towards the light, ensuring your fingers do not block the light. Turn the egg until you can see its contents. It is best to candle in a dark room, and you can candle an egg before placing it into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs are going into the hatcher.
If the egg is fertilized, you will see veins and a dark blob. By day seven, if the eggs haven't developed an embryo, they should be removed from the incubator. By day 14, the embryo has grown significantly, and you may be able to see the chick's foot and the eye, which appears as the darkest blob. By day 18, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area.
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When to candle eggs
Candling is a process that involves shining a bright light against the shell of an egg to see what's going on inside. It is generally recommended to candle an egg no more than two or three times: once before placing the egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to make sure that only viable eggs go into a hatcher.
On day seven, if the eggs haven't developed an embryo, they should be removed from the incubator. On day 14, the egg is getting full, and it's harder to see the embryo. By day 18, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area within the egg. You can sometimes see movement inside the egg.
If you're on a budget, you can build an egg candler at home by placing a desk lamp (using a bright low-energy lightbulb) inside a cardboard box. Cut a small, round hole in the top of the box, just big enough for the pointed end of your egg. Modern LED torches that do not give off much heat are also suitable for candling eggs.
It's best to candle eggs in a completely dark room, so remember to shut off all the lights and close the blinds. It's also important to limit how much you handle the eggs, as the less you disturb them, the better.
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What to look for when candling eggs
To candle an egg, shine a bright light against the shell to see what's going on inside. You can use a desk lamp, a household torch, or a modern LED torch. It's best to do this in a dark room.
When candling an egg, you are looking for signs of 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. You might even see some movement. If you don't see veins or an air sac, the egg isn't likely to be developing.
On day 14, a healthy chick will take up most of the egg. Look for a darker interior, less light passing through, and continued movement. If it still looks clear or hasn't changed since day 7, the egg likely isn't viable and should be removed.
On days 18-19, the yolk sac is being drawn into the embryo's body, providing nutrients for the chick. On days 20-21, there is a membrane around the embryo, and you may see some internal "pipping", where the embryo uses its beak to poke through the membrane and breathes the air in the air sac.
It's recommended that you limit candling to two or three times: once before placing an egg into the incubator, on day 7, and on day 18. This is because the less you handle the eggs, the better.
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How to build an egg candler
Candling eggs is the process of shining a bright light against an egg's shell to see what's going on inside. This can be done to check if an egg is fertilised, to monitor the development of an embryo, or to check the quality of an egg before storing or selling it.
To build a simple egg candler at home, you will need:
- A good-sized metal can with a lid (e.g. a candy container, coffee can, or any canister with a tight-fitting lid)
- An ordinary light fixture (a bright low-energy light bulb is best)
- Nuts and bolts
- An electric plug
- An in-line switch (optional)
- Cardboard
- A cork gasket (or cut your own from gasket material, felt, or rubber)
- Duct tape
- Position the light fixture inside the can.
- Secure the fixture in place by punching mounting holes in the bottom of the can and fastening it with nuts and bolts.
- Make an opening in the bottom of the can for the light's electric cord.
- Attach an electric plug to the free end of the wire.
- Add an in-line switch to the cord for convenience, if desired.
- Cut a "porthole" (about 1.5 inches in diameter) in the lid of the can to illuminate the eggs.
- Glue a cork gasket around the opening to prevent eggs from cracking if they bump against the can.
- Cut a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the lid and tape the two components together.
- Cut a hole in the centre of the cardboard, about the size of a toilet paper roll, to hold the eggs in place.
- To use the candler, darken the room and gently roll the egg over the light opening to get the best view.
It is recommended to limit candling to two or three times per egg: once before placing the egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs go into the hatcher.
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How to prepare an incubator for candling
To prepare an incubator for candling, start by gathering the hatching eggs and placing them in a secure container, such as a soft basket or clean egg carton. If the eggs were stored wrapped in plastic, take the time to unwrap each one. Number each egg using a soft pencil, being careful not to press too hard on the shell. Marking the eggs is not mandatory, but it helps keep a record of each egg's development.
Next, prepare your incubator by cleaning it with a 10% bleach solution, followed by warm soapy water, and then a thorough rinse. Once the incubator is clean and dry, turn it on and check that it maintains a constant temperature and humidity level. Place the incubator in an area with steady ambient temperatures and no drafts.
To candle the eggs, you will need a bright light source, such as a flashlight or a desk lamp with a bright low-energy light bulb. Shine the light against the shell of each egg to see inside. If using a desk lamp, you can place the lamp inside a cardboard box with a small, round hole cut in the top, just big enough for the pointed end of the egg. Alternatively, you can use an egg candler or a modern LED torch, which does not give off much heat.
It is recommended to candle eggs before placing them into the incubator to check for any micro-cracks that could lead to contamination. Then, candle the eggs again after 7 days of incubation to check for embryo development. After 14 days, the eggs will be harder to see inside as the embryo will have grown significantly. By 18 days, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is the process of shining a bright light against the shell of an egg to see what's going on inside.
It is recommended to candle eggs sparingly, with two or three times being the ideal number: once before placing an egg into the incubator, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to make sure that only viable eggs go into a hatcher. However, some people candle as frequently as days 7, 14, and 18.
To candle your eggs, carefully remove the incubator lid and position the egg candler at the top of the egg (pointy end down), but at a slight angle. This will give you the best view into the egg. It might take a few tries to get a good seal.
On day 7, you should see some major veins. By day 14, the egg is getting full, and it's harder to see the embryo. By day 18, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area within the egg.
Yes, here are some additional tips:
- It is best to candle your eggs in a completely dark room to reduce the amount of light coming in.
- Avoid bumping or jostling the egg, especially during the early days, as the delicate blood vessels are still developing.
- If you have white eggs and good candling equipment, you may see some veins on day 3. However, it is harder to see veins in blue, green, or brown eggs.
