candelling

[Roooisin]

is candeling eggs necessary if my hen is sitting on them?

 

[tinydancer87]

You don't have to...I usually check them about 10 days into incubation and toss the ones that weren't fertile. And mark the original set of eggs so I can keep removing the newly laid ones that the hen steals and tucks under.

 

[Ridgerunner]

No, Candling is not necessary if you are using an incubator either. It is something fun and interesting to do if you want to. Sometimes you can learn something about the incubating process that might help you learn to do the incubating better. You might be able to remove eggs that are going bad before they explode, but the sniff test will work just as well for that. But is it necessary? No.

 

[Roooisin]

thanks guys.

does then hen lay eggs even when she's sitting on them?

 

[Ridgerunner]

No. The eggs hatch after 21 days of incubation. If she laid eggs after she started incubation, then the eggs she later laid would not have enough incubation time to hatch. Since she is not eating and drinking as much as normal, this would be wasted energy. Nature wisely causes her to stop layiing eggs after she starts incubation.

 

[ranchhand]

Not usually. Most hens do not lay when they are broody.

 

[Roooisin]

thanks for all of your helpful comments.

 

[Komaki]

I do candle to remove eggs that are bad. If you aren't sure what to look for, I then agree it's not needed. I have had eggs explode, and the mess is why I do it. But thats for the bator.