Ben Carter
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 best time to candle eggs is after 6–8 days of incubation and again at 14 days. This is because after a week of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo, and at 14 days, you can remove any eggs with embryos that have died. It is not recommended to candle eggs during the first few days of incubation, as it is hard to see anything and the embryos are in a critical period of development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is candling | The process of shining a light through an eggshell to see what's happening inside |
| Reason for candling | To test whether an egg is good enough quality to go into the incubator and to see whether the embryo is developing as it should |
| Best time to candle chicken eggs | After 7 days of incubation and again at 14 days |
| Reason for candling after 7 days | To see which eggs are developing |
| Reason for candling after 14 days | To remove any eggs with embryos that have died and lessen the risk of a rotten egg exploding |
| Candling after 14 days | Not recommended as the chick takes up a lot of space inside the egg |
| Candling before eggs go into the incubator | To test whether the egg is good enough quality to go into the incubator |
| Candling frequency | It is not advisable to candle every day |
| Egg outside incubator | Eggs can be outside the incubator for up to 30 minutes but should be put back as soon as possible |
| Candling technique | Hold a light to the wide end of the egg (the air cell end) to illuminate the shell's contents |
| Light brightness | The darker the eggshell, the brighter the light required |
| Egg colour | White and light brown eggs are the easiest to candle; dark brown, dark green, olive, and blue eggs are harder to candle |
| Egg placement | Candle with the pointed end facing downwards |
| Egg placement outside incubator | Candle on a soft surface like a towel or blanket |
| Room lighting | Candle in a dark room |
| Hand hygiene | Wash hands before candling to avoid contamination |
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What You'll Learn
Candling chicken eggs on a budget
Candling is a process used to look at the inside of a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. It is used by people who are incubating chicken eggs to test whether an egg is good enough quality to go into the incubator and to see whether the embryo is developing as it should.
Candling can be done as early as day 3 of incubation, but it is hard to see anything, and it is not advisable to disturb the eggs during this critical period. It is recommended to candle chicken eggs after 7 days of incubation and again at 14 days. After a week of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo, and at 14 days, you can remove any eggs with embryos that have died. After 14 days, it is difficult to see much inside the egg because the chick takes up a lot of space.
When candling, always wash your hands before handling the eggs, preferably with a good-quality medicated hand wash, to avoid transmitting any bacteria. Take the eggs from the incubator one at a time during its "cool down" time. Candle with the pointed end of the egg facing downwards, and be very gentle to avoid jolting the egg. Keep the eggs outside the incubator only for as long as it takes to candle them, as the heart rate cools quickly the longer they are outside their warmth.
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How to identify a yolker
Candling is a process that involves looking inside a developing egg by shining a bright light through it. It is used to determine whether an egg is fertilised and whether the embryo is developing as it should. It is also used to identify any eggs that have stopped developing.
A "yolker" is an egg that has never been fertilised and will not develop an embryo. To identify a "yolker", look out for the following signs:
- The egg looks the same as it did when you first examined it before putting it in the incubator.
- The inside of the egg is fairly clear, with no visible dark spots, blood vessels or blood rings.
- No spider-like veins are visible.
If you are unsure whether an egg is a "yolker", leave it alone and check again in a few days. If there are still no obvious signs of development, you can discard it.
It is recommended to candle eggs after 7 days of incubation and again at 14 days. After a week of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo. At 14 days, you can remove any eggs with non-viable embryos to reduce the risk of a rotten egg exploding.
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When to candle dark eggs
Candling is a process that involves shining a bright light through an egg to see its interior. It is used to determine whether an egg is fit for incubation and to monitor the embryo's development. Dark-shelled eggs, such as Marans or Welsummer eggs, require a brighter light source during candling as they are harder to see through.
When candling dark eggs, it is recommended to wait at least 7 days after the start of incubation. By this time, the embryo would have developed significantly, with visible spider-like veins, a yolk sack, and a growing eye—the darkest "blob" in the egg. After a week of incubation, you can also be reasonably certain about the viability of the embryo.
It is also suggested that dark eggs be candled again at 14 days of incubation. At this stage, the air pocket in the egg should be larger, and the egg will be getting darker as it fills with more bird. Candling at this stage allows for the removal of any eggs with non-viable embryos, reducing the risk of a rotten egg exploding. However, it is important to note that after 14 days, it becomes more difficult to see inside the egg as the chick takes up most of the space.
While it is possible to candle eggs daily, it is generally not advisable. The critical period of incubation is during the first few days, and any disturbances during this time are not recommended. Additionally, the egg becomes more porous as incubation progresses, increasing the risk of bacteria entering a warm and humid incubator. Therefore, it is best to avoid candling during the last few days of a hatch unless there is a specific reason.
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How to build your own candler
Candling is a simple 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 homemade egg candler works just fine.
Here's a simple guide on how to build your own egg candler:
Materials:
- A good-sized metal can with a lid (a candy container, coffee can, or any canister with a tight-fitting lid will work)
- An ordinary light fixture or a higher-wattage bulb
- Small nuts and bolts
- An electric cord with a plug
- An in-line switch (optional)
- A container with a lid and a 1 1/2" diameter hole cut out (for the "porthole")
- A cork gasket or similar material such as gasket material, felt, or rubber
- Four legs or a stand for horizontal viewing
Instructions:
- Position the light fixture inside the can and secure it with nuts and bolts.
- Make a hole in the bottom of the can for the electric cord and attach a plug to the free end.
- Optionally, add an in-line switch to the cord for convenience.
- Create a "porthole" by cutting a hole in the container's lid and gluing a cork gasket around it to protect the egg.
- Assemble the candler by attaching the lid to the can.
- To use, place the narrow or wide end of the egg against the porthole, depending on its stage of development.
Tips for Candling:
- Always candle in a dark room to get the best view of the egg's interior.
- Wash your hands before and after handling eggs to prevent the introduction of bacteria or oils.
- Candle eggs at different stages of development: Day 7 to check for early signs of life, and Day 14 to look for more significant changes.
- Look for signs of fertility: a dark spot (embryo) with visible red veins branching out and a visible air sac.
- Identify "yolkers" (infertile eggs) and "quitters" (eggs where the embryo has died) and remove them from the incubator.
Building your own egg candler is a simple and inexpensive project that can help you manage your hatch more effectively and ensure the quality of your eggs.
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How many times to candle eggs
The number of times one should candle eggs depends on the stage of incubation and the reasons for candling. Candling is done to assess the fertility and development of eggs, particularly during the incubation period. It is a critical skill to develop if you want to incubate your own eggs.
Candling can be done as early as day 3 of incubation, but veins and signs of development may not be apparent until day 5 or 6. By day 7, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo. At this stage, mark those that don't seem to have developed. Some sources suggest candling again at day 14 to remove any eggs with embryos that have died and lessen the risk of a rotten egg exploding.
It is not recommended to candle eggs during the last few days of incubation as the chick moves into position to hatch. However, some people choose to recheck the eggs during this time if they suspect hatching problems caused by incorrect incubation humidity.
One source suggests candling eggs twice: once when putting the eggs into the incubator to check for cracks, and again on day 8 to check for development. However, some people may candle eggs more frequently, even daily. It is important to note that the more often you candle, the higher the risk of accidents and disturbing the eggs.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
It is recommended to candle at least three times during incubation. The first candling should take place 6-8 days after the eggs are placed in the incubator. The final candling takes place about a week later.
The best time to candle chicken eggs is after 7 days of incubation and again at 14 days. After a week of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo.
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. Look for a darker interior, less light passing through and continued movement.
