Jessie Taylor
Candling is the process of shining a bright light against a shell to see what's going on inside an egg. It is used to monitor embryo development, identify potential issues, and make adjustments throughout incubation. The simplest way to candle an egg is with a basic flashlight, but there are specialized pieces of equipment designed specifically for the job. The best time to candle an egg depends on the colour of the egg. For white and light-coloured shells, candling can be done as early as day 1 or 3 of incubation, whereas darker shells will require a brighter light and may need up to a week before they can be candled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of candling | The act of shining a light through an egg to monitor embryo development, identify potential issues and make adjustments throughout incubation |
| Purpose of candling | To check if an egg is fertilized, to monitor embryo development, and to identify potential issues |
| Timing of candling | Day 1 to 3, Day 5 or 7, Day 14, Day 18 to 21, and after 21 days |
| Equipment needed | A basic flashlight, a specialized egg candler, or a DIY setup with a desk lamp and cardboard box |
| Process | Remove eggs from the incubator for 5-10 minutes, shine a light against the shell, look for signs of development, and return eggs to the incubator |
| Embryo development signs | Dark areas, blood vessels, embryo movement, yolk sac development, membrane formation, internal pipping |
| Non-viable egg signs | Clear egg, thin ring inside the egg, no veins or embryo visible |
| Additional considerations | Avoid bumping or jostling the egg, maintain correct humidity and temperature in the incubator, mark eggs for progress monitoring |
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What You'll Learn
Candling can help identify if an egg is fertilised
Candling is the act of shining a bright light through an egg to see its contents and determine whether it is fertilised and developing properly. The simplest way to candle an egg is with a basic flashlight, but there are specialised candling devices available. Candling can be done before incubation to check for cracks and determine whether an egg is fertilised. Cracked eggs are more susceptible to harmful bacteria, which can affect the development of the embryo.
During incubation, candling can be used to identify a fertilised egg and monitor its development. By day 3, the structure for the beak, and the leg and wing buds appear. The embryo turns 90 degrees, with the yolk on its left side. By day 4, the eyes are becoming visible and may show up as a red spot with candling. By day 5, the sex of the embryo is genetically distinguishable. By day 7, the knee and elbow joints have developed, and the heart is enclosed in a tiny thoracic cavity. At this stage, if the egg hasn't developed an embryo, it should be removed from the incubator. By day 18, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area within the egg. You may be able to see movement inside the egg.
Candling can also help identify if an egg is no longer viable. For example, if you see a well-defined red circle inside the shell, this is a blood ring, and indicates that the embryo has died. 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.
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How to candle eggs
Candling is the act of shining a bright light against an egg's shell to see what's going on inside without cracking it open. The term comes from the traditional practice of using a candle, but today, a strong flashlight works just fine. White and light-coloured shells are the easiest to candle, while darker shells may require a brighter light.
- Ensure your hands are clean and dry. Oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell, preventing the embryo from getting enough oxygen.
- Place the large end of the egg, where the air cell is, against the light source.
- If the egg is fertilised, you will see a dark spot (the embryo) with visible red veins branching out and a bright air sac above it.
- If the egg is infertile, it will be clear inside with no veins or dark spots.
- If you see a thin ring inside the egg, it indicates early embryonic death.
- If a ring of red is visible, there was an embryo at some point, but it has died.
- Mark your eggs with a soft pencil so you can monitor their progress.
- Return the eggs to the incubator as soon as possible, preferably within 5-10 minutes.
It is recommended to candle eggs twice: once on day 7 to check for early signs of life, and again on day 14 to monitor progress. By day 18, the embryo will take up most of the space in the egg and appear as a dark area. During the last three days of incubation, it is best to avoid candling unless necessary, as the embryo is preparing to hatch.
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When to candle eggs
Candling is the act of shining a bright light against a shell to see what's going on inside an egg. It is used to monitor embryo development, identify potential issues, and make adjustments throughout incubation to ensure a successful hatch.
The simplest way to candle an egg is with a basic flashlight, but there are specialized pieces of equipment designed specifically for the job. 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. To allow the eggs to stay inside the incubator, plan to candle a few at a time and do not keep the egg out of the incubator for more than 5-10 minutes.
If the inside of the egg is clear, that is, free from visible structures or dark areas, the egg is infertile, or the embryo died very early. Remove this egg from the incubator. If a ring of red is visible within the egg, there was an embryo at some point, but it has died. If you can see blood vessels within the egg, there is a live embryo inside.
Blood vessels in chicken eggs are normally observable within 7 to 10 days of an egg's incubation. By 18 days of incubation, 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. By day 21, you may also notice some internal “pipping”, where the embryo is using its beak to poke through the membrane and is now breathing the air in the air sac.
Some people candle their eggs as early as day 1-3, and again on day 5 or 7. Day 7 is when you should see some major veins. By day 14, it becomes harder to see much inside the egg as the embryo develops.
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What to look for when candling
Candling is a simple 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 process is usually carried out in a dark room to get a better view of the egg's interior.
- Day 7: On the seventh day, a fertile egg will show a small dark spot (the embryo) with red veins branching out and a visible air sac. You might even catch 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 14th day, a healthy chick should 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.
- Cracks: Cracked eggs should be removed from the incubator as they are likely to become infected, causing the embryos to die prematurely.
- Infertile: Infertile eggs will be clear inside with no veins or dark spots.
- Heart: If you have a light-colored chicken egg, you might be able to see the heart beating with the naked eye between days 3-6 of incubation.
- Dark-shelled eggs: Dark-shelled eggs are much harder to see through and will require the brightest light source available.
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How to build a candler on a budget
Candling is the act of shining a bright light through an egg to see what's going on inside. It is an important part of an embryology project, as it allows students to see into the egg. You can purchase a candling unit, but it is quite simple to make an inexpensive one yourself.
You will need the following supplies:
- A tin can with a removable top and a bright, shiny interior (e.g. a large coffee can)
- A piece of wood to mount the can on (e.g. an old scrap piece of 2"x6" board)
- A piece of foam or something similar to pad the hole where the egg touches (avoid black rubber as the colour may come off on the egg)
- A lamp socket
- A bright low-energy lightbulb
Drill two small holes in the bottom of the can and use wood screws to fasten the can to the piece of wood. You can place a small block of wood between the can and the larger block to put it on a pedestal, making it easier to move your hand around while holding the egg. Put the foam around the hole where the egg will touch the candler. Position an ordinary light fixture inside the can, with the light bulb at the top, and secure it in place with nuts and bolts. Cut a small, round hole in the top of the box, just big enough for the pointed end of your egg. Make another opening in the bottom of the can for the light's electric cord. Attach an electric plug to the free end of the wire, and add an inline switch to the cord for convenience.
To candle the egg, place the large end of the egg against the light opening. You can gently roll the egg on the candler to get a better view.
When to Candle Your Eggs
Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 20-30 minutes before starting to cool down, so don't rush. It is recommended to candle eggs after 7 days of incubation to check for signs of fertility. If there is a network of veins coming out of a dark blob close to the centre of the egg, it is fertilized. If there are no veins or the blob, it is unfertilized and should be removed from the incubator. By day 18 of incubation, the embryo takes up most of the egg and appears as a dark area within the egg. You can candle unhatched eggs after 21 days of incubation to see if they are still alive before discarding them.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is the act of shining a bright light against an egg's shell to see what's going on inside without cracking it open.
You can candle your eggs as early as the day you set them. Some people candle on day 3, 5, 7, and 14. By day 7, if eggs haven't developed an embryo, they should be removed from the incubator.
You can candle eggs judiciously to check on development, but remember that there are periods when you should not be opening the incubator.
If the inside of the egg is clear, the egg is infertile, or the embryo died very early. Remove this egg from the incubator. If a ring of red is visible within the egg, there was an embryo at some point, but it has died. If you can see blood vessels within the egg, there is a live embryo inside.
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. You can also build your own candler with a desk lamp and a cardboard box.
