Candling for the first time

[bald egg]

I set a mix of 20 eggs 10 days ago and candled them on day 7 with my iphone and an LED flashlite. I have a mix of Black Copper Marans, Olive Eggers and Welsumer eggs. I know, great combination to do first time out. It is really difficult to see into those dark eggs? So, I built a 10" x 10" box and wired up a 150 watt bulb inside. Then had another look tonite. This helped but I still have some questions. If the egg looks "runny" or "watery" it is bad ...right? From what I have read a bad egg is "clear". I can kind of make out a yolk but the inside moves about freely as I rotate the egg over the light hole. So, I should cull those 2 eggs? How long do I have before a bad egg explodes? They don't smell rotten, should I be able to sniff out a bad one on day 10? On the lighter eggs, I can see wonderful development and vein formation. This is so cool!! Please help. Thanks

 

[FarmGirl01]

I've never had an egg exploded, but I have heard stories of others.

At day seven, you should see clearly lots of veins. As you said you have, thats great.

At about day 12 or 13, there will be more of a dark mass on one side of the egg. This is the day I would toss out, since this is your first time. Very easy to tell. I know the dark eggs will be hard to see through.
At this time of develpoment, day 12, I would toss any clear eggs.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

 

[madrooster]

if u turn the eggs so the aircell is pointed at the light u can rotate the eggs so ucan see the veins in the darker eggs, also hlod it still for a minute and u should c good movement, hope that helps

 

[FarmGirl01]

When I was learning this process, I would crack open any eggs I was tossing. Its the only way to learn.

 

[bald egg]

Thank you, I plan to crack the ones I suspect are bad eggs. But, don't want to pull the trigger too soon. Thank you for the "dark mass" comment. I see that in the the darker eggs that are viewable. I will candle again on day 14 (Sunday). I should defiantly see signs of life by then.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Good luck.