Hoping for candle info -- guinea eggs incubating

[MiniHorses]

What I'm really wanting to know is what to look for when candling. Is there a site with such info--preferably with pics.

Do they look different for the lighter birds? How much definition will/should I see? ETC
Just not sure what to look for. I had my vet to teach me to ultrasound my horses for foals but, this isn't the same.
I have some which are dark as if the yolk was opaque & you can see the air sac at the top, as well as albumen. Couple lighter but with obvious dark areas as if you were seeing organs within a developing fetus. Two have only one dark spot, kinda kidney shaped and I see minor differences in the balance, assume these are now "duds".

Anyone? LOL? candling 101?? Thanks.

 

[KrisH]

What I'm really wanting to know is what to look for when candling. Is there a site with such info--preferably with pics.

Do they look different for the lighter birds? How much definition will/should I see? ETC
Just not sure what to look for. I had my vet to teach me to ultrasound my horses for foals but, this isn't the same.
I have some which are dark as if the yolk was opaque & you can see the air sac at the top, as well as albumen. Couple lighter but with obvious dark areas as if you were seeing organs within a developing fetus. Two have only one dark spot, kinda kidney shaped and I see minor differences in the balance, assume these are now "duds".

Anyone? LOL? candling 101?? Thanks.

wait till day 14 or so to see if they are not furtle. tougher than chickens and takes 28 days, so not as much development early on.

Patience grasshopper (said with poor oriental accent)

RobertH

 

[JLeigh]

Mini, at day 7, novices (like us - I'm one too) should be able to see three "sections" to the eggs - the air sac at the top, a little bit of a darker section below that, and the darkest part at the pointed end. The darkest part should be larger than the others. Peeps posted a great picture of a fertile egg on this forum, at about day 6 or 7 (can't remember). It's a great example. A search should take you there.

The real trick to candling is twofold: total darkness (until you get the hang of candling) and one strong flashlight. With a strong enough flashlight, you can see through the thick shell better.

Don't throw out any eggs until you're SURE it's not fertile. A "clear", or infertile eggs, will be evident to you because it's, well, clear. There are no obvious color "sections".

When you see it, you'll know it.

Then comes the veining. Now that's cool. Then they'll start wiggling around in the shell. Too much fun.

 

[MiniHorses]

Woohoo...for any other new to incubation.....should have gone here first BUT, in the learning center selection on this site there is an entire thread showing eggs being candled at different stages. Very helpful. So, now I feel better with the "black" late term eggs. LOL

Anyone else wondering, there it is...........go look.

I want an incubator that is automatic -- turns, controls temp, humidity, etc., etc. I can read the calendar. Guess I have one working well, it's the hen on that nest!!!! But, since she will have variable hatch dates, my back-up incubator needs to work easier for ME.