Candling eggs: are they good or not?

[Sphinx]

I have a broody hen that I set eggs under 6 or so days ago.

Today, I tried to rig up something to candle the eggs.

I used a work light (like this one: http://www.wolo-mfg.com/5500-big.jpg). Then, I put a cardboard box over the top with a small hole cut in the top. Turned out the light in the room, and put the eggs on top.

I'm not sure if any of these eggs are actually developing, but I'm just not sure. I have the highest hopes with the white one (egg #1). I'd love to hear your expert opinions.

The eggs are from 4 easter eggers and one white leghorn, so four of the eggs are darker- 2 are olive green, one a blue color, and one a blueish/green.

#1 white egg:

#2 olive egg:

#3: lighter olive egg

#4 (can't remember if this was the more blue egg or the more green egg)

#5 (it's really, really bad that it's this porous, right?)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Candling from the side makes it very hard to see early on. Try shining the light from the top (fat end) down. You should see some veining by day 6.

This one is candled from the top down around day 5 or 6, it is also a peafowl egg, not chicken.

 

[cmom]

Here is what I use and it works good. It is a shop light with an 65 watt halogen bulb. I lined the inside of the cardboard with aluminum foil with foil tape.

Infertile egg

Developing Pheasant egg

 

[Sphinx]

Oh, very clever!

I'll try to rig up something like that tomorrow.

I'm not feeling terribly optimistic about these eggs though.

 

[Arielle]

Chin up! Candling is a skill that experience improves! And your eggs are dark which is much harder to see through; the white egg looks good to me, so trust that the others are ok too. Keep going until it smalls bad or leaks. You will want to candle again to check for the increase in air cell size, so keep notes and build a candler with a stronger light. GL

 

[cmom]

Click on the image.

 

[Sphinx]

Cmom, that video was really cool. Thanks for sharing that and the photos. FlChickens, your picture was fantastic and very educational as well. Thank you both.

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips. I don't think lightbulb brightness is the issue, the light I have is a 500 watt. I am sure it's user error. I'm in the process of fussing with my stuff some more, and was checking back to look at your pictures before trying again. I'll be back, and hopefully have some more pics.

 

[Sphinx]

All right, I made something that looks almost identical to cmom's candling device. I used a traditional 100 watt bulb because that's all I could find.

I've decided that I suck, and must just sit back and watch what happens.

This is the white egg. That darker shadow moves around, but not by itself. If I shift the egg, it moves, but it seems like it's simply in response to my movement.

The other eggs just seem to be too dark.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

Quote:
how do you get such good pictures? this is my first time hatching eggs and all but 1 of mine are fertile and developing great

i'm excited and wanted to post pics but every time i take one it comes out dark and you can't make anything out

 

[DixieChickie]

Candle the end with the air cell....the broad end.