Anyone candle before setting eggs?

[Goose and Fig]

Can you tell if eggs are scrambled before you put them in the bator?
Or is it best just to put them all in and wait until day 8 or so? That's what I usually do- but it's going to be a full house this time.

 

[Akane]

You can check the condition but you can't be certain so you'll end up putting them all in the bator anyway.

 

[Katy]

If I've gotten shipped eggs that had a rough trip with some broken I'll usually candle to check for cracks that might not be visible otherwise. My own eggs I don't candle before I put them in.

 

[dancingbear]

I do. Always. And I won't sell hatching eggs without candling them, either. I check air cell placement, look for cracks, and check porosity, and any other shell abnormalities.

Cracks will light up when candled, you can instantly see micro cracks that aren't easily visible under normal light. I look for thickened areas of shell, too, especially in the "zip-zone".

I reject a lot of eggs that outwardly looked fine for hatching, that show micro cracks, weak or thin areas, too much porosity, and once in a while, an air cell on the side, instead of in the end where it belongs.

It really bothers me to pay for hatching eggs, then candle them and find out that most are eggs I would've rejected, for hatching. Usually because of thin, or overly porous shells. If I find cracks, but really want to set that egg, I can wax the cracks. But you have to find 'em, before you can patch 'em!

The rejects are used for eating, both at home and to sell.