Candling Question

[jeaucamom]

I will be candling those Welsummer eggs in the next few days and was wondering what is the best process to do this. I am worried about taking them out one at a time and opening and closing the incubator that many times, but if I take them all out, then they will get cold. How does one do this and not loose too much humidity and heat? I wouldn't do it at all except I will be adding eggs this week and want to get any undeveloping eggs out when I put the new ones in. I wouldn't have done a staggered hatch like this, but those eggs came a week early ARG!!

 

[Poison Ivy]

I candled 42 eggs the other day and I don't worry about it to much. A hen gets up off the eggs for 15 or 20 minutes to eat and dust bathe. I try not to rush to much when I candle I don't want to drop a egg like I did before. Good Luck on your hatch. I have a hatch due this wednesday.

 

[Katy]

Unless you're planning on waiting until day 7 or better yet day 10, you probably aren't going to be able to tell much. At least I think you only started them a couple of days ago...right?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I wouldn't worry too much about candling either...when I candle I take my time and just leave the bator top off til I'm thru with the whole cluck of eggs..if a hen can get off for up to 30 minutes all is well.....I candle as close to day 7,14 and 18 as possible so I'll know I can see development...

 

[jeaucamom]

We set them last Thursday at 11am. So if I am correct, this Weds at 11am, will be the beginning of day 7. I am planning on doing it then. I should have all my other eggs and so it should be a good day. Do you think it will be too much to leave the top open and close for candling and introducing colder, dryer eggs? Thanks for all your help.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Just have the new eggs ready and rested to go in and set them in after you candle the others...that way its only the one time you will have the bator open......my opinion....

 

[jimnjay]

I have to take my eggs into the bathroom where it is dark when I candle. I place them in an egg carton or two and take them all in at once. I put the lid back on the incubator while I am gone and then I replace them all together. It only takes my incubator about 3 minutes to get back up to temp. Humidity changes for that short a period is not a worry.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Good tip jimnjay...My bator is kept in the kitchen on the counter when I want to hatch and I just turn all lights off to darken the room....