Can a light be to bright when candling?**Got my light! 150 lumens!!!**

[gumpsgirl]

Can you get a flashlight to candle with that is to bright??? This thought really never crossed my mind until I read on a post that maybe the lady's flashlight was to bright and that's why she wasn't having very good hatches. Can this happen because of the light?

I found a really bright flashlight (like 10 LED bulbs!), but was afraid to buy it before I knew if I would hurt my developing chicks with it.

 

[Jubaby]

I don't know, because I'm new too. But I've been really scared to candle my eggs. I keep reading so many do's and don't's.

Like - taking too long, holding the wrong way, bright light, too hot light, etc. Some candle at 4 days, others say don't until 7-10 days. I'm so afraid that I'll mess something up.

Oh well!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Maybe we will both get some answers here!

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

What?! Does an ultrasound kill a baby? No. Dont be scared guys. I candled mine every day and so did a couple hatching buddies and we all got 100% hatch. I used a mini LED flashlight but my husband loost it so this time I just used a regular cheap crappy flashlight that you have to beat on and shake to get it to work. I could still see okay. Candling them is the coolest part because you get to see how fast they grow. I took a different one or two out each day or 2 to look at. That way they weren't all getting disturbed everyday.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Thank you Vamp-A-Billy! I have candled some of my eggs, but have a few that the shells are so dense I can't really see into them, that's why I am thinking of getting a brighter flashlight. Before I did that though, I wanted to be sure I wouldn't "blind" or hurt my new chicks while they are developing!

Isn't it the coolest thing to see those embryo's moving?!?!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Speckledhen uses a slide projector or a projector of some sort. If that's not to bright I don't think a flashlight will be.

 

[gumpsgirl]

No kidding! Leave it to Cyn! Thanks Farmer Kitty. I will go spend the $27 on that flashlight and hope that I can see through those darn eggs with it.

 

[NoSpringChick]

Some eggs are really hard and dense and you won't even be able to see the air cell. I've tried to candle my pheasant eggs, but see nothing.....I just have to trust that they are fertile and growing.....LOL

 

[LuannKeller]

I use a projector - really bright - and have great hatches and have had for 2 years. I hatch little bitty Serama eggs which can be tough and don't have any ill effects so I think you are fine with a flash light.

I candle on day 5 so I can discard any infertiles - incubator space is at a premium. At that point you can see a little red spider in a fertilized egg. When I candle later I look for blood rings and cloudy eggs with no veins - those little folk died - don't need a stinker to explode. As they near day 18 I am watching for the size of the air sack - making sure there is a roomy spot for a baby but not too much. I keep humidity at 55% and that works well for Serama.

My strongest chicks hatch on day 19 or at least pip by then. On day 20 I candle for little fellows who have not pipped a hole - if they are pushing up into the air sack I open a breathing hole for them. I candle any fellows who have pipped but don't make progress for 12 hours - they are often in a bad position or very cramped and I help them out - using the candler to see where to begin - opening at the air sack end first - stopping if there is much blood - delivering head only and let them rest and see if they kick the shell off. If I have to help get the shell off, I am careful not to pull the shell off without pinching off their cord first to prevent them bleeding too much.

Candle on - the brighter the better - Candling is a great joy and it can help you spot a illness in a breeder faster if they stop laying fertile eggs. My biggest casualty is when I slip and crack one - I try to move slow enough to be careful but don't spend too much time on a viable egg. I look longer at likely deads - want to be sure before they head to the trash.

Happy Hatching!

 

[coffeemama]

I think the heat is the only concern with a bright light. Just use an led to eniminate that worry. I use a 145 lumen led flashlight and have had no issues.