Tyler Brooks
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through a turkey egg to check its development. It is recommended to candle eggs twice: once around day 10, and again on day 25. However, some sources suggest candling eggs every day or every few days, starting from day 7, to monitor development. Turkey poults take 28 days to complete the incubation process, and it is important to maintain the correct temperature and humidity during this time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First candling | Day 10 |
| Second candling | Day 14 or 15 |
| Third candling | Day 25 |
| Egg turning | 3 times daily |
| Egg turning degrees | 180 degrees |
| Egg turning frequency | 3-5 times daily |
| Lockdown | Day 24 or 25 |
| Target humidity level | 60% to 65% |
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What You'll Learn
Candling turkey eggs on day 4 is too early
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through the eggshell to get an idea of what's going on inside. It is an important step in incubation since it gives you the opportunity to remove any eggs that weren't fertile or that have stopped developing. While candling turkey eggs is important, doing it too early in the process can be counterproductive.
While it may be tempting to candle eggs early out of curiosity, it is best to wait until there is a higher likelihood of being able to observe the embryo. Additionally, frequent handling of the eggs is not recommended, as it can increase the risk of damaging the developing chick. Oils and other substances on hands can be absorbed by the egg, causing potential harm.
To ensure the best chances of success, it is advisable to minimize egg handling and follow recommended candling timelines. For turkey eggs, this typically means waiting until at least day 10, and candling again on day 24 or 25 before placing the incubator on lockdown. This allows for the removal of any non-viable eggs and helps maintain a healthy environment for the developing embryos.
While it is important to be patient and follow recommended candling times, it is also crucial to maintain proper incubator conditions. This includes monitoring temperature and humidity, regularly turning the eggs, and ensuring clean hands when handling the eggs to minimize the risk of introducing bacteria.
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Candling every day is fine, but clean hands are a must
Candling turkey eggs is an important step in the incubation process, and it's natural to want to check on the progress of your eggs regularly. While it is generally recommended to candle eggs at specific intervals, such as on days 10 and 25, it is not harmful to the eggs to candle them more frequently. In fact, some people choose to candle their eggs every day or every other day to monitor their development closely.
However, it is crucial to prioritize the safety and well-being of the developing embryos. One key factor to consider when candling turkey eggs is maintaining clean hands. Oils and other substances on your hands can be absorbed by the egg, potentially causing damage to the embryo. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your hands are clean before handling and candling turkey eggs. This practice helps protect the eggs and maximizes the chances of a successful hatch.
While candling, it is also important to be gentle and careful with each egg. Handling the eggs with care minimizes the risk of accidental damage and ensures the best possible outcome for the embryos. In addition to clean hands, it is worth noting that turning the eggs regularly is crucial for the embryos' development. Whether you use an automatic turner or manually turn the eggs, maintaining a consistent turning schedule is essential for a healthy hatch.
For those new to the process, candling involves shining a bright light through the eggshell to observe the contents of the egg. This technique allows you to assess the progress of the embryo and identify any issues. By candling, you can determine if an egg is fertile, infertile, or non-viable due to decomposition. It is a valuable skill for anyone interested in hatching turkey eggs, whether you're an experienced homesteader or just starting out on your turkey journey.
In conclusion, while candling turkey eggs every day is acceptable, the priority should be on maintaining clean hands and handling the eggs with care. By following these guidelines, you can safely monitor the development of your turkey eggs and increase the likelihood of a successful hatch. Remember to combine candling with proper turning practices and a well-maintained incubator for the best results.
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Around day 10 is a good time to candle
Candling turkey eggs is the process of shining a bright light through the eggshell to check what's happening inside. It's a good idea to candle turkey eggs around day 10. This is because, by this point, you should be able to see what's going on inside the egg. Before this, there's no point in candling as you won't see anything. One source says that by day seven, you should be able to see spider-like formations in the egg, which show that the egg is fertile and developing. However, another source says that you won't see anything before day 10.
Candling eggs around day 10 gives you a chance to discard any eggs that aren't viable. You can candle turkey eggs with a ""candler" or with a bright flashlight. It's important to make sure your hands are clean when handling eggs, as oils and other things you touch can be absorbed by the egg, which can damage the developing chick.
If you're turning your eggs by hand, you should turn them three times a day. If you're using an automatic turner, this will turn the eggs for you more frequently, and that's fine too. Turning the eggs prevents the developing poults from sticking to the shell.
After candling eggs around day 10, you'll want to candle them again on day 25. At this point, most of the egg will look solidly dark, and you might see a little movement. If you see the contents sloshing around as you move the egg, this is an embryo that hasn't made it and has started to decompose. You'll want to discard any eggs that are clearly not viable before putting the incubator on lockdown.
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Day 25 is when the incubator goes on lockdown
Turkey eggs are some of the easiest poultry to hatch, even for beginners. The first 25 days are crucial for monitoring the temperature and humidity, and it is essential to candle the eggs at least twice: once around day 10, and again on day 24 or 25, before placing the incubator on lockdown.
Candling involves shining a bright light through the eggshell to observe the embryo's development. By day 25, most of the egg will appear solidly dark, and you may notice slight movement. It is normal if you don't see any movement, given the limited space inside the egg. However, if you observe significant light areas or sloshing contents, it indicates a non-viable embryo that needs to be discarded before initiating the lockdown.
The lockdown period is the final three days before the poults hatch and dry off, typically around day 28. During this phase, you should stop turning the eggs manually or using an automatic turner. The humidity level should be increased to a range of 65-75% during this period, and you can slightly lower the incubator temperature to 98.5°F to expedite the hatching process.
To prepare the incubator for lockdown, remove the egg turner, open all vents, and consider adding a non-slip liner to the incubator's bottom to aid the poults in finding their footing. It is crucial to maintain cleanliness and sanitation throughout the process, and the incubator should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after all poults have hatched and been transferred to the brooder.
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Candling can be done with a candler or a bright flashlight
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to see what's going on inside. It's like an ultrasound for hatching eggs. You can candle turkey eggs with a "candler" that's specifically made for the purpose or with a bright flashlight. Candlers can be mains-powered or battery-operated and typically come in two varieties: the first is like a torch with a rubber seal around the end, and the second is a tabletop unit with a place to sit the egg. Most candlers today use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) rather than electric bulbs, as LEDs produce a bright white light without much heat.
It is recommended to candle turkey eggs at least twice: once around day 10, and again on day 25, right before putting the incubator on lockdown. On day 10, you can identify and remove any non-viable eggs, such as those with hairline cracks, blood spots, or other undesirable contents. On day 25, most of the egg will look solidly dark, and you might see a little movement. It's okay if you don't see much movement, as it's crowded inside the egg. However, you don't want to see an egg that's mostly light-coloured with just a small dark area, as this could indicate that the embryo didn't make it and has started to decompose.
Some people choose to candle turkey eggs more frequently, such as every Saturday or every other day, to monitor the growth of the embryo. While candling turkey eggs as early as day 4 won't harm the eggs, it's important to note that you won't be able to see much at this stage. Additionally, handling the eggs too much can increase the risk of damaging the developing chick, as oils and other substances on your hands can be absorbed by the egg. Therefore, it's generally recommended to wait until at least day 10 or 14 before candling turkey eggs.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to candle turkey eggs twice: once around day 10, and again on day 25.
You should be able to see spider-like formations in the egg around day 10. Clear eggs are infertile and should be removed from the incubator.
After candling on day 25, it is time to put the incubator on lockdown. This involves removing the egg turner if you've been using one, and increasing the humidity in the incubator to 60-65%.
