Easiest way for a beginner to candle eggs...Please help!!

[chickenlittle32]

I am new to using an incubator and don't know what to look for when candling eggs. I have turkey, guinea, and chicken eggs in my incubator right now. The turkey/guinea eggs have been in there for 13 days and the EE's have been in there for about a week...

I have done research as to what to look for...and honestly...I can hardly see anything. LOL Any hints please?

 

[Dogwood Farm]

Depending on the color of your eggs I have one dark green I can not see anything but the air cell in. To a very light colored green one and brown ones that I can see all kinds of movement in. I am using a very strong light my hubby gave me and an empty toilet paper roll. Works great for me. Shine the light up through the tube and hold the egg on top while in a dark room and I was amazed at what I could see.

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Quote:
She is right workes as good as the $150 kinds. Cheap is always better LOL

 

[shelleyd2008]

I use a small LED pen light and shine it down through the top of the egg. All the veins normally start at the top near the air cell, so it is much easier to see that way. Also, candling in this manner means you don't ever need to handle the eggs. Less risk of jostling or dropping the eggs!

 

[DANNY]

I keep a small mag lite in my pocket all the time. I use it for all sized eggs. It's small so when you stick it to the big end of the egg it seals all the light to go through the egg. It works perfect !

 

[chickenlittle32]

OK Thank you all sooooo much!!!!!! I am so excited, I went and got a LED flashlight and saw the most awesome thing!!!! We saw swimming in the eggs....one egg I am not sure of what I saw. LOL Like a large air sac coming from the bottom of the egg towards the side...I did see veins and a dark shadow. What do you all think it was?

 

[IHeartCapnHook]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but how often can you candle an egg???

 

[chickenlittle32]

I have been hijacked...oh no...lol jk

I think you can whenever you want until the last 3 days of incubation...but I am new at this so I could be totally wrong...lol

 

[Eggseronious]

I candle on 7-14 18 days. Check out these links. http://lancaster.unl.edu/4H/embryology/EmbryoPhotos.shtml http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html You can do a Google search "candling egg pictures" and find lots of info and pics.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I've only hatched one batch so far. I started candling on day 4 I think, I think I may have candled every day until day 18

I couldn't help it. Had to see.

I used a lamp with a flower pot over it. The flower pot had a hole so that worked for me.

I could see movement, I never really could make anything out...chick or veins but I knew I saw movement in there. I had a great hatch. GOOD LUCK TO YOU