Is it possible to Candle TOO OFTEN?

[Lora C]

Im on day 11 with my first batch of hatching eggs - and i am so tempted to candle every day. There are only 4 of 8 left of the original batch in my incubator - the other 4 were clear. I love seeing that there is still life in there. I checked them last night, and want to check again tonight - just for a few seconds.....my DH says he read somewhere its not good for them, but id like your opinion; is it possible to candle too often?

 

[bargain]

Everytime you candle, you remove them from their warm, moist invironment. You risk giving them dirt, lotion from your hands.

I really only candle just before the last 3 days.

I know it's a temptation, but even with a big cabinet incubator, I've found that consistent temps and humidity levels are key to outstanding hatches!

Back away from the candler....LOL

Have a blessed day!

 

[kelliepulido]

I too really feel I have lost eggs that were growing by candling too much.I candle at day 8or 9 and then maybe day 14 and then try to stay out of it.

 

[Akane]

I completely disagree with anyone who thinks candling causes harm. It wasn't until recently that I had a turner. Nearly all the eggs I've hatched have been hand turned. 3 times a day of handling and opening the bator. My hatch rates were probably better then than they are now with a turner. Hens get off the nest daily. The insides of the egg do not cool for a considerable amount of time after the bator has been cool. I've collected abandoned eggs half a day after the hen was killed and had them all be alive. They handle temporary cool air just fine and may even benefit from the bator being opened at least once a day to let in fresh air. So long as you don't have anything really bad on your hands or accidentally drop an egg they suffer no damage candling. I've candled some daily the entire time they were incubating and had just as high of hatch rate as ones I've rarely candled.