I have a broody NH red sitting on a clutch and its day 4 for the first egg layed. This is my first batch so wish me luck! I have 2 questions: 1. how do you candle eggs 2. If the eggs are layed on different days then how are they all going to hatch on the same day?
Well I can help with the number one question. I have a flash light it has 80 lumins. I got it at Wal Mart for $25.00. Thats better because you can see through brown egg better. I wait until night time and I put a hand towel or wash cloth around the light so it just sticks out a little over the light. This way when you touch the egg it is touching the cloth and not the light. I also use gloves so I don't touch the egg with my hands. Turn the light on and put it on top of the egg. You should be able to see though the egg. I move the light around a little to see if I can see movement. I just candled last night and I saw a foot. It was the cutes thing. I was surprised I saw it. I am on day 18. Hope that helps.
1) You just put a flashlight to the egg and see what you see. You dont need a very bright light, just a very dark area. You'll see the heart first (it's cool to see it beat) then the brain and a bunch of veins. 2)The mamma chicken doesn't sit on the clutch enough for them to start growing until she lays all the eggs she's gonna hatch. They dont have to be kept warm from the moment their layed to hatch, so she start sitting full time once her nest is full with all the eggs she's gonna hatch. Plus the hen tells the chicks to hatch with little noises and encourages them and stuff. So they all hatch right togetherish usually.
I used this site to compare to before I knew what to look for, and I still reference it ALOT! http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/CandlingPhotos.shtml Also, there may be some help on the BYC site in the learning center, I haven't checked there.