How do you keep the eggs warm while candling?

[cherprit]

Do you take them all out at once - so you only open the top one time? I'm terrified of them getting cold!

and, yes, this is my first time!

I've searched all the candling posts, (I think), but I need the dummies version, step by step

 

[pete55]

Hi there

Simply leave them where they are and pass a pen torch over them in the incubator. It'll only take a few minutes and the embryos will be fine. See the first picture on my thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=472294

Good luck from UK

 

[alicefelldown]

Think of the broody hen who needs to leave the eggs to eat / drink / poop. She isn't concerned about the heat loss from her excursions and you shouldn't worry about yours from candling. They won't get that cold while you're working anyway!

For ours - we remove the top and put it aside. Eggs are candled and weighed (we use dry hatch and keep a weight log to monitor evaporation) one at a time and replaced in the turner. It takes a little less than five minutes to go through a full incubator and put the top back on.

Good luck with your hatch!!

 

[secuono]

Momma hen leaves the nest for 5-15 minutes one to two times a day.
I take out only 2-3 eggs at a time.
If you use a flashlight, you do not have to worry about heating the egg with it. If you use a regular house bulb in a box, that's another thing. But you only need to have the egg over the light for 1-2 seconds to see if it is viable and then set it down and do the others.
After you are done with the few you took out, place them in and take out the next batch the be checked.

 

[cherprit]

Thank you both!

 

[cherprit]

Ok, I think a few at a time might be good. Wish me luck! Hope my hands aren't shaking too bad!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I only candle twice, at day 10 or 11 (depending on my work) and again at day eighteen. I don't worry about them getting cold as it only takes about three minutes per tray. I use a Sportsman and each tray holds two racks of eggs.
I just pull out the tray, set it on a desk beside the incubator and candle the eggs in the trays without taking each egg out. I pull out any that are not developing and put them in a waiting egg carton to dispose of later. I do shut the door on the incubator while I have the tray out. When I'm done, I re-insert the tray, kick the turner back on and go on my way. I always check the humidity pans every day, and if I need to add water I just have the water ready, open the door, pour in the water and shut the door. Takes maybe a minute tops. I've had as much as 100% hatches.

In nature the eggs get to cooled down a bit when the hen leaves the nest to eat and poop, so it's not going to hurt them.

 

[cherprit]

Ok, thanks! Today is only day seven, should I wait?

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
That's up to you. I only candle twice, but I know a lot of folks on here candle all the time. It's a personal choice.

 

[snazzyboots]

i am a newbie but when i candled at day 8 i took all of the eggs out and closed the lid of the incubator and then when i was done just put them all back. i thought that would minimize heat loss. i don't know if that was right but it made sense to me