Jessie Taylor
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its interior. This is done to check the quality of the egg and to monitor the development of the embryo. The process is usually carried out between days 3 and 18 of incubation, with some sources recommending candling on days 5, 7, and 14. It is important to candle eggs in a quiet, dark room, with the eggs on a soft surface to avoid breakage. While candling, it is crucial to avoid jolting the egg and to keep it outside the incubator for as short a time as possible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To test if eggs are good enough quality to go into the incubator and to monitor the embryo's development |
| Timing | Day 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 18 |
| Equipment | Bright light, ultra-bright LED flashlight, candling lamp, Brinsea's candler, OvaScope |
| Technique | Wash hands, candle on a soft surface, pointy end of the egg downwards, candle at night in a dark room |
| Observations | Air cells, veins, embryo, cracks in the shell, blood spot, blood vessels |
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What You'll Learn
Optimal timing for candling eggs
Candling is a process that involves examining the inside of a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. It is used to determine the quality of eggs before placing them in an incubator and to monitor the embryo's development during incubation. The optimal timing for candling eggs depends on the purpose of the examination.
Initial candling: Before placing eggs in an incubator, it is recommended to candle them to assess their quality and fertility. This initial candling can be done as early as the first day of incubation. However, it is important to note that the eggshell colour can affect visibility. With white eggs, veins may be visible on the third day of incubation, while brown, blue, or green eggs may require at least a week or a super bright light for proper examination.
Monitoring embryo development: To monitor embryo development and ensure healthy growth, candling is typically done on days 3, 5, 7, and 10 of incubation. On day 3, some users may observe tiny veins, while on day 5, the "spider" embryo and veins indicate fertility. By day 7, major veins and embryo movement may be visible. Candling again on day 10 allows for re-evaluation of eggs that showed no signs of development on day 5, helping identify non-viable eggs and prevent bacterial growth in the incubator.
Pre-lockdown candling: On day 18, just before lockdown, candling is critical to ensure that all eggs are developing properly. Any eggs showing signs of non-development should be removed at this stage to prevent bacterial contamination and potential explosions.
It is important to note that while candling is an exciting process, it should not be done daily as it increases the risk of accidents and bacterial transmission. Always practice good hygiene by washing hands before candling and handle the eggs gently to avoid accidental drops or jolts.
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How to candle eggs
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see its interior. It is used to check the quality of eggs before placing them in an incubator and to monitor the embryo's development during incubation. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to candle eggs:
Prepare the Environment:
- Choose a quiet, dark, or dimly lit room to minimise distractions and improve visibility.
- Prepare a soft surface, such as a towel or blanket, to place the eggs on in case of accidental drops.
- Ensure the eggs are in a cool-down period when removing them from the incubator, and work quickly to minimise temperature fluctuations.
Candling Process:
- Wash your hands with medicated soap to prevent the transmission of bacteria to the eggs.
- Remove the eggs from the incubator one at a time, being gentle and avoiding jolting or cracking the eggs.
- Always hold the eggs with the pointed end facing downwards.
- Place the egg on the candling device, such as a Cool-Lite Tester, with the light shining on the larger end where the air sac forms.
- Rotate the egg slightly to get the best seal and view of its interior.
Identify Embryo Development:
- Identify the "winners," which are fertilised eggs with proper development. You will see a network of blood vessels that appear white, with a dark outline at the centre indicating the embryo. You may even see the embryo's eyes or slight movements.
- Identify "yolkers," which are unfertilised eggs. These will appear clear, with no blood vessels, embryo, or blood ring.
- Identify "quitters," which are fertilised eggs that stopped developing. These may show initial signs of development but lack further progress.
Timing of Candling:
- It is recommended to candle eggs before placing them in the incubator to establish a baseline.
- The first candling after incubation should be between days 3 and 8. You may start seeing veins and initial embryo development.
- Candle again around days 7 and 14 to assess embryo viability. By day 7, you should see major veins and embryo development.
- Recheck eggs at day 14 if concerned about humidity or specific issues.
- Avoid candling during the first and last few days of incubation, as it is hard to see anything, and the embryo is positioning itself to hatch.
- On day 18, just before lockdown, candle all your eggs to ensure none have died. Remove non-viable eggs to prevent bacterial contamination and potential explosions.
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What to look for when candling
Candling is a method used to check if an egg is fertile and developing properly. It involves shining a bright light through the egg in a darkened room. This allows you to see the inside of the egg and determine whether the embryo is developing as expected.
When candling eggs, there are several key things to look for to assess fertility and development:
Day 1–3
On the first day of candling, you may see a reddish-orange sphere on the yolk. By day three, you might observe tiny bean-shaped embryos with the beginnings of blood vessels. These will be harder to see in blue, green, or brown eggs.
Day 5–7
Around this time, you should see the "'spider'" of the embryo, along with veins that indicate the egg is fertile. You should also look for the air cell, which tells you that the chick is growing well. A healthy chick should be taking up more space within the egg, so you should observe a darker interior with less light passing through.
Day 14
By two weeks, a healthy chick will have developed further, and you should see a much darker interior with even less light passing through. You may also observe continued movement within the egg.
Day 18
Candling at this stage is critical to ensure no eggs have died. If any show signs of non-development, they should be removed from the incubator to prevent bacterial contamination and potential explosions.
In general, when candling, it is important to look for any cracks in the shell, which could become a problem and allow bacteria to enter. Additionally, the presence of a dark dot, the embryo, and spider-like blood veins are all positive indicators of fertility and development.
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How to avoid damaging eggs
Candling is the process of looking inside a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. It is used to determine whether an egg is good enough quality to put into an incubator and to check whether the embryo is developing as expected. It is a critical skill to develop if you want to incubate your own eggs.
To avoid damaging eggs, there are several steps you can take before, during, and after the candling process. Firstly, before placing eggs in an incubator, ensure they are collected and stored correctly. Eggs should be collected at least three times daily, with increased frequency when daily high temperatures exceed 85 degrees F. Ideally, store eggs in a cool, humid storage area at 55 degrees F and 75% relative humidity. Avoid storing eggs for longer than seven days before incubation, as hatchability declines rapidly after this period. Abruptly changing the temperature of stored eggs can cause moisture condensation on the shell, leading to disease and reduced hatch rates.
When selecting eggs for incubation, avoid excessively large or small eggs, as these can hatch poorly or produce small chicks. Also, refrain from incubating eggs with cracked or thin shells, as these can have difficulty retaining moisture and are more susceptible to disease.
During the candling process, always wash your hands beforehand with a good quality medicated hand wash to avoid transmitting bacteria to the eggs. Candle eggs on a soft surface, such as a towel or blanket, to prevent breakage if they are accidentally dropped. Avoid jolting the eggs and always handle them gently. Keep the eggs outside the incubator for only as long as it takes to candle them, and ensure the room is quiet to prevent sudden movements.
Additionally, it is important to turn or rotate the eggs during incubation. This prevents the developing chick from sticking to the shell and ensures the embryo rests on top of the yolk. Eggs should be turned a minimum of three times per day, with five times being ideal. Mark the eggs with a pencil after turning to keep track of which ones have been turned. If using an incubator with an automatic turning feature, ensure it turns the eggs in alternate directions to avoid damaging the chalaza.
By following these guidelines, you can help avoid damaging eggs during the candling and incubation process, increasing the likelihood of successful hatching.
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How to avoid bacteria
To avoid bacteria when candling eggs in an incubator, there are several steps you can take:
Firstly, ensure your hands are clean and dry before handling the eggs. Bacteria can be transferred to the eggs from your hands during the candling process if they are not properly washed. Dirty eggs can also introduce bacteria, so it is important to clean them before placing them in the incubator.
Secondly, avoid over-handling the eggs. The less you handle them, the better. It is generally recommended to candle an egg no more than two or three times: once before incubation to check for micro-cracks, at seven days to check for development, and at 18 days to ensure only viable eggs are in the incubator. Excessive handling can increase the risk of bacterial transfer and accidental drops, compromising the hatching process.
Thirdly, always candle eggs with the pointed end facing downwards. Be very gentle and avoid jolting the egg. Keep the eggs outside the incubator only for as long as necessary to candle them. The longer they are outside the incubator, the quicker the embryo's heart rate cools down.
Additionally, use reliable equipment and ensure your incubator is sterile. The incubator should automatically handle humidity and turning to prevent bacterial growth. Check the water reservoir daily and maintain proper humidity levels to avoid embryo death during incubation.
Finally, promptly remove non-viable eggs, including infertile or rotten eggs. Rotten eggs can explode, spreading bacteria and contaminating other eggs and the incubator. Dispose of any eggs that appear cloudy or have a brownish tinge, as these may be signs of bacterial contamination.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is the name given to looking at the inside of a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. It is used to determine whether an egg is good enough quality to go into an incubator and to monitor the embryo's development.
It is recommended to candle eggs before they go into the incubator to check their quality. Once they are in the incubator, it is best to avoid candling every day as accidents can happen. Instead, candle eggs somewhere between Day 5 and Day 7 to see which are developing. At that stage, mark the eggs that don't seem to have developed and re-candle them on Day 10. Candle all your eggs again on Day 18, just before lockdown, to ensure none have died.
To candle eggs, you will need a bright light source such as a flashlight or a candling lamp. Turn off the room lights and hold the egg with the pointed end facing downwards. Avoid jolting the egg and be very gentle. Always wash your hands before candling to avoid transmitting bacteria onto the egg.
