I've been candling this batch a LOT, but I've just candled a couple when it wasn't around day 13 and then I'll do it again on day 18. For example, I did one full batch of candling at about 1 week/10 days to check for quitters - and then marked the ones I thought were questionable. At more frequent intervals I checked on the marked ones (like every 2 days or so) and then removed the ones that had definitely quit and kept the ones that had progressed. Then I did another full candling at day 13 ( I think) and again, purged through by marking the ones that I wasn't sure about, and marking the ones I am sure, so tonight I will check in on the questionable ones (today is day 16) and then I will remove any more quitters, then do a final candling of everyone on day 18. This way I could satisfy my craving to check on them, but at least be somewhat productive with it.
I was also told it took approx 30 min for the internal temp of the egg to cool down, that may not be accurate, but just saying. You would think it would make sense though, so that mama hen has some time to get up and around and eat etc without her eggs cooling off before she gets back! There are also plenty of demo pics that show the egg every day right up until it hatches so, it must not be that bad. That is my reasoning anyways. You could always choose one particular egg and mark it for your son to watch, so that at least if there are any ill effects its only happening to one egg, not all of them!
