First Time Candling and Not Sure What I'm Looking at?

jlgoinggreen

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Hi Everyone,
This is our first hatch and I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I looked at all the candling pictures in the "Learning Center", but still have no idea of what I am doing. This is day 4 or 5 of my incubation for my eggs. In my Genesis 1588 are my Blue/Black Ameraucana eggs that were put in the incubator on 4/15 at 7:30am and my BCM and a few mutts that were put in the incubator 4/15 at 7:30pm. On my Ameraucanas I can see veins, but my BCMs and Mutts I can only see a mass. I'm guessing because they are a darker color eggs. Either way I didn't throw any of them away because I really can't tell.

What exactly am I supposed to be seeing by day 4 or 5?
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Now, where I am really, really confused is with my Bourbon Red Turkey eggs. When am I supposed to candle them and what should I be seeing? Is it the same as the chickens? These eggs are in my LG. I placed them in at 7:30pm on 4/15. Quite honestly the temps and humidity on it are going crazy. The weather here does not know if it's ready for Spring or wants to stay in winter. Some days are real hot and others are real cold. I have my LG away from windows and are in a no draft zone, but still my bedroom like the rest of the house gets hot/cold when the weather outside is hot/cold. This of course make my LG (unlike my Genesis which has stayed very steady with it's temps and humidity) spike up or lose temps quite fast. Another thing, the turner I bought for it broke one of my eggs. It literally got stuck to it and broke, so I took the turner off. I have all the eggs laying on their side and hand turning 3 to 5 times per day. The only problem is that I live in a very old house. When we walk on the wooden floors it makes my eggs bounce. We try to be careful walking around the eggs, but dh sometime forgets and clunks around in his work boots.
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We did buy a new incubator (Brinsea Oct 20 Eco) and hope that will help to keep steady temps like our Genesis and help with the bouncing of the eggs. That is if our turkey eggs aren't already ruined.
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We did candle these turkey eggs this morning, just in case. These eggs are a lighter color so I was hoping to see veins or something, but all I see is a huge mass in them. When should I start seeing something in these? Do you think the temp changes have ruined them and their done?
 
Turkeys seem to take much longer than ducks or chickens to see veining. I would wait until at least day seven to candle them.

As for the chicken eggs, both blue and dark brown eggs are difficult to candle. Ideally you'll be able to see veining after few more days, perhaps you'll even be able to see the small dark embryo ( about the size of a pencil eraser at first). As you get further along you'll look for movement within the egg or veining (easiest to see closest to the airsac).

Eta: smell them each everytime you candle. Because they're dark eggs and your first time incubating, I would advise not to throw any os them away unless they smell or you are absolutely certain they've died. Otherwise when in doubt don't pull them out.
 
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Sorry. We had Homeschool Coop today and I missed this. Didn't realize anyone responded.

Thank you so much. If the eggs were not fertile, I should not have seen anything right? They would be clear if not fertile? When candling them I do see a mass, but my dh wonders if that is just the yolk? Is this what I'm
 
clears are clear to see after about 10 days you'll know theres a huge difference. and yes go by ur nose. you smell something, find it it may already be leaking so be careful. right now you may see some veining a little later you'll know what you were looking at.
 
Yes, definitely trust your nose. You will absolutely be able to smell one that is going bad. I can just walk in the room and smell one starting to go bad without even opening the incubator.
 
Thanks guys. I really appreciate this. I thought I was late in candling as my book stated the first one should be done on day 3 and throw away all the clears. We are so lucky I couldn't really tell and decided to ask here. You guys are AWESOME!
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