Candling brown eggs after 7 days

[BigBlueHen53]

If the air cell was floating around it sounds like it was completely detached. I have had that with a couple of shipped eggs and those I haven't had any luck with them developing at all. If it slides along the side of the egg a bit then it isn't completely detached and can end up saddled but I have had luck with those.

Thank you.

 

[BBQ2U]

I tried candling my eggs after the first 7 days tonight and I feel a little lost (and frustrated).

I incubated 22 eggs because, well they all fit, and I was concerned about viability and hatch rate with the Nurture right 360. I started candling the eggs and it totally feels like a juggling act. Between taking the cover off (reducing the temp and humidity) on ALL the eggs, pulling one out and trying to test it (jostling it all around from its warm happy place) with the candling light on the lid, I feel like it was impossible. The candling light lights up the whole lid (and some of the room) so its really hard to get a good glow on the egg to see what's going on in there. I tried a small flashlight but that didn't work- at all. To add insult to injury, they're brown eggs so they are darker- and I feel like all I can see are the rock stars who are active and obvious. I am shocked at how hard it is to determine if its a winner, quitter or yolker :-(

I'm really worried about pitching a 'good egg' because I'm new at this and inexperienced. I read somewhere that I should wait and candle them in a couple more days if I'm not sure.

At what point does the dead or non-viable egg go bad and contaminate the rest of the incubator???

How do yawl handle the candling process with a full incubator? (all those eggs, piles of good, bad and questionable all within the 8 minutes or less that the incubator should be open)

Any experience with brown or dark eggs and making the call?

Signed
- I'm new and clearly suck at this- why didn't I buy chicks again?

I really appreciate this post of yours. Hubby and I just candled 22 eggs in our Nurture right 360. What we experienced could not have been put in better words than you put into words. Exactly the same experience. We are just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

 

[Iluveggers]

I really appreciate this post of yours. Hubby and I just candled 22 eggs in our Nurture right 360. What we experienced could not have been put in better words than you put into words. Exactly the same experience. We are just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

Good luck! I quoted two posts that were written after the one you quoted that you might find helpful!

I actually remove about half the eggs at once when I candle, and put them point down in a carton, then close the incubator. That way I am only opening it to get the first group, switch out to the second group, and then to put the second group back. I bought a separate magicfly candler on amazon for about $10. But if you are using the one on the 360, I would suggest making a thick cardboard lip around the bottom to help with any light leakage.

Honestly, with this hatch, I have a few super dark speckled eggs that I couldn’t see anything in until about day 14 when the shadow was big enough that I could see it move. So I never pull a dark egg until after hatch is over or if it starts to stink.

I either do this or close the vent (make sure to open it again after!) and just open the incubator enough to side a hand in to sneak out an egg then close it again. It will drop down in temp and humidity but will jump back up fairly quick after you are done. I find having the vent closed while I candle will help with temp and humidity while I am candling at least a bit.

I also got a magicfly candler on amazon (thanks @Iluveggers) but I have used the incubator one. you can try to use your hand to block out some of the light and that will help. Some eggs I am hatching are brown and while not super dark they must have thicker shells since they are hard to see in. day 3-7 was harder to see so i wait. around day 10-14 you will see more of the dark shadow and see it moving around which makes it easier.

You should smell something well before anything explodes. I have left some in there for most of the hatch as a ? and haven't had an issue with any exploding, or smelling actually. Just smell them to be sure they don't stink like a rotten egg, if they don't they are good to go for longer.

 

[Jesitxmarie]

I use a custom built egg candler. My dad makes these egg candlers! I’ve used blue/green eggs, as well as tan eggs, and you could see through them really well. My tip is to set the egg on the candler with the air sac at the top of the egg. If you also use a small pen flashlight on top of the egg, shining down into the air sac, you can really see very, very clearly into the egg. You can see the head, legs, etc! The candler is made to plug into an outlet, no batteries required. (Just PM me if you are interested in purchasing a set-up!) The attached picture shows candling at approx days 10, 14, and 18.