Is there a such thing as “too much candling”

[kalerae15]

Is there a such thing as candling too often? We are have some eggs incubating and we are on day 6. Just want to know if there’s a such thing as candling too often? I know that you don’t notice a huge difference within a day, but didn’t know if it “hurts” anything to candle more than just once or twice throughout the incubating period?

 

[nuthatched]

Only if you drop the eggs.

 

[Mill Chick]

Is there a such thing as candling too often? We are have some eggs incubating and we are on day 6. Just want to know if there’s a such thing as candling too often? I know that you don’t notice a huge difference within a day, but didn’t know if it “hurts” anything to candle more than just once or twice throughout the incubating period?

It’s fine if you pop one or two out every day or so and do a couple candlings of all of them (that’s what I do)

 

[kalerae15]

Only if you drop the eggs.

I’m super paranoid about that actually so I lay blankets on the floor around me

 

[kalerae15]

It’s fine if you pop one or two out every day or so and do a couple candlings of all of them (that’s what I do)

Im generally fairly quick about it but wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to damage them

 

[MysteryChicken]

Sometimes I watch alittle too closely, & candle 2-3 times a day. But usually I candle once every few days.

Candling too often won't hurt them.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Hens tend to come off the nest at least once a day, and some incubators now come with an intermittent cooling option. As long as you don't drop the eggs I can't see any reason candling would cause any harm.

 

[DonyaQuick]

Just be sure to stop a few days before hatch, and keep track of temp/humidity to make sure it bounces back quickly to where it should be. My best broody hens got off their nest daily for a half hour or so up until the eggs started wiggling - no problems then and 100% hatch rate, so no reason incubator eggs can't handle daily inspection. However, lockdown is worth respecting. Other than temp/humidity issues being more critical then, you can definitely distress a chick if you candle it after the internal pip...did that once to one poor egg not realizing how far along it was (it was a couple days ahead of schedule for that) and the chick started screaming in the egg from the bright light flash. That chick hatched just fine, but not something I will be repeating on any other eggs that are getting close to lockdown...

 

[kalerae15]

Hens tend to come off the nest at least once a day, and some incubators now come with an intermittent cooling option. As long as you don't drop the eggs I can't see any reason candling would cause any harm.

This was my same thought process. I’ve seen some people say you’ll disturb the air sacs etc. but broody hens hop up and down and roll them around. Lol

 

[kalerae15]

Just be sure to stop a few days before hatch, and keep track of temp/humidity to make sure it bounces back quickly to where it should be. My best broody hens got off their nest daily for a half hour or so up until the eggs started wiggling - no problems then and 100% hatch rate, so no reason incubator eggs can't handle daily inspection. However, lockdown is worth respecting. Other than temp/humidity issues being more critical then, you can definitely distress a chick if you candle it after the internal pip...did that once to one poor egg not realizing how far along it was (it was a couple days ahead of schedule for that) and the chick started screaming in the egg from the bright light flash. That chick hatched just fine, but not something I will be repeating on any other eggs that are getting close to lockdown...

Oh I definitely won’t be messing with them during lockdown at all. More so meant prior to lockdown within the first two weeks. My same thought was that hens hop off the eggs periodically as well. Thank you!!