Candling Brown Eggs?

[jlgoinggreen]

We are on day 10 of our incubation. We candled our eggs again last night. I am Happy to report all but one of my Ameraucana's are doing GREAT!!!

We had 18....well 20, but I dropped one and it landed on another one the day they got here.

My problem is with my BCM and Buff Orpingtons (who will be EE chicks by my EE rooster). All I can see on these are the air sacs. Everything else is too dark. I was hoping I could at least see a slight movement of the shadowy figure to have peace of mind that everything is OK, but I can't see anything in there. I am using the "Cool-Lite Candler" from Cutler Supply.

For those of you candling BCM or any other dark eggs.....What do you use to candle them???

What steps should I take to make sure they are OK?

 

[goldnchocolate]

I used a small LED flashlight that I bought at Walmart. I could see airsacs and dark sections but couldn't see any chickie parts or movements. I just looked for a good distinct line between the air sac and everything else under it. I found that if I put the flashlight tight against the top of the egg I could even see into the Marans eggs (just barely but enough to see the air sac).

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

We have been using a utility light to candle our Orpington eggs. It's been working great. I've only candled them twice throughout the process. We candled at day 5, and day 21. At day 5 we weren't too sure the smaller egg was going to do anything. On day 21 they are all showing babies that should hatch any time. It's day 22, and still no hatching. But we are very confident it will be any time.

 

[Backyard Farm]

I got an old slide projector off Craigslist for $10... great for candling DARK marans eggs... and everything else. Eggs don't get hot either.

 

[jlgoinggreen]

Thanks goldnchocalate. That's the same thing we are seeing. The air sac and dark sections. The air sac seems to be developing fine, so I am feeling a little OK with that. I was just hoping there was a way to see more. At least some movement.


Thanks Cavendish. What type of utility light are you using?


Thanks Backyard Farm. Great idea! I would have never thought of that. We don't have a slide show type of projector, but I believe we might still have our old movie projector. Hmmmm.....that might just work! Will try it tonight and I sure do hope it works.

 

[CindyG]

My eggs are BCM, very dark and I can only see into one. There is something flipping in there, so I am excited. My first time to try hatching and are on day 8. I can't see anything in the others, not even to distinguish air sac. I am just holding them over a high intensity light, so only look for a few seconds as it is hot. Will have to get a better set up and try again.

 

[jlgoinggreen]

Congratulations CindyG. This is my first time too. I'm on day 10.

 

[MotherMal13]

I cant see much of anything in any of my eggs eaither. I have EE's and rir's that i cant see through. All i see is the air sac.I can just barely see through my silkie eggs. Probablly because of my crappy flashlight. Also my broody dosent like me taking her eggs away. Ha were on day 8. So eggcited.

Happy hatching!

 

[debilorrah]

It is very hard to see through those Maran eggs. The only REAL way I could tell was comparing them. Once I KNEW one was developing the rest was easy. I have barred rocks in there now and candling is Wednesday - gonna be hard to see for sure in there too.