I get a f- in candling

[CDennis]

Today is the 10th day (I have tried to candle twice but haven't seen anything other than shell) it doesn't help that all the eggs are green or brown which I hear are more difficult. Today I am going to try again, If I am using a light and holding it up to the egg I should be seeing something in side by today if the are fertile right? I have been practicing on eggs in the fridge and all I see is shell when I hit them w/ the light. So I figure by now I should see something. If I don't do I toss the eggs and try again w/ more eggs or just let her keep going and see what happens? Thanks!!!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

You need a special light. Are you using a candling light?

You can make one and I know there are sites on here and elsewhere on the internet that shows you how.

I bought mine from the local hatchery, but they sell them online too.

 

[Lyz]

Most of the eggs that I hatch are dark...use a cardboard box...cut a small hole in it...then take a mouse pad and cut a hole just a little smaller than the one in the box...use a regular light with a 100 watt bulb in it...put it in the box directly under the hole...when you set the egg on the hole...lightly push down to seal the egg and mouse pad...the light has to go through the egg then...and you will see plenty...sometimes you have to turn the egg...only have it over the light for a few seconds though...cuz it gets too hot...but it works..

 

[giasmom]

Also helps if its in a really dark room.

 

[milleryardchx]

are you in the dark while doing it or in a lit room? i candle in the bathroom in the corner with an led flashlight and i'm working with marans eggs and its hard to tell but it works.

 

[swedishfish]

I go out at dusk and hide in the corner of the coop with my little flashlight, or take them into my bathroom (no window). I just use a little flashlight, and it works alright. But my shells are light brown and white.

 

[CDennis]

Tonight I snagged three eggs (my husband is at work so I didn't have him to hold the hen) the hen is not very nice so I did the best I could, it was pretty dark on the green one it looked solid other than a very small space. The two brown ones I grabbed looked like the eggs from my fridge. I am not sure if they are just all not fertile or maybe that green one is. I decided I would just leave them and see what happens (what is the worst that can happen?!?!?) so maybe I will get some little ones, they are still in my barn, as it gets closer I guess I need to think about moving them. How about a large dog kennel?

 

[walkswithdog]

I bought two high powered LED penlights from amazon, one tiny, one penlight size. On even the darkest eggs, putting one on Either end of the egg shows me progress or not. They weren't as expensive together as most commercial candlers and they're not hot.

I just let broodies do their thing and never candle under a broody - it's just rude. I candle what I am hatching myself. If an egg explodes under a broody they scrape out the crud and go on. Broodies mean business and they know their work. The buggers will hatch or they won't.

If a hen leaves the nest with chicks and leaves eggs, I haul those in, let them warm for about four hours and check for life and hatch them myself if they're still kicking.

Pissing off and messing with broodies are how things get crushed and hens quit broody and a whole host of bad things happen.

Sure some hens will let you, and not be fussy but every time you pick up an egg you have a percentage chance of dropping it. Ask me how many eggs I've dropped.... ugh.

Watching a broken egg bleed is not good for you or it... It dies and you get the guilt for a long time.