Newbie & incubating, Day 6! Candling?

[Katy]

Congratulations!

 

[msbliss]

That's awesome cowboy! Look forward to hearing what your results are tomorrow!

I'm having a dilemma about candling here. Although I definitely want to do something besides look at the therm, I'm kind of thinking I won't candle at all. Reason being, at the most, I'd just do a quick sampling as I have 34 eggs in and definitely not going to mess with the incubator/eggs long enough to candle them all.

I think it's Cyn with the Blue Orps (? could be wrong about that, but in any event someone with a bit of experience) who doesn't candle at all. Other than a egg blowing up, what could possibly be the drawback to that method?? Anybody??

Donald......how are you/your eggs doing?? Are you successfully resisting the urge for the 2nd incubator/more chicks?? I'm NOT

 

[LoneCowboy]

But then you risk the chance of a bad egg blowing up and mucking up your bator. Maybe wait till day 14 and see what you get then clear out the rest. I'm worried about having enough room in there for them to move around once they hatch, so I'm going to need to get the bad eggs out of there.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, I do candle! And I candle several times during incubation, too. If I have a huge bator-full, I may do a few one day, then a few days later, do some different ones so the bator isn't open too long. I probably candle four times during an incubation. If I'm just checking fertility and dont plan to incubate the eggs to the end, I may candle starting at three days and every day till about day six before I decide to crack them open or allow them to continue on.
The drawback is just what you said and it's a biggie! An seeping or exploding egg can ruin the entire hatch.

 

[silkiechicken]

I candle way too many times during incubation but to do 30 eggs, it takes like 5 minutes and I don't even have to take the eggs out of the incubator. w00t for hand held candlers! I would take out any clears on day 14 and let them go from there.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I'm going to redo mine in a day or two. There are about 4 that I know are good, but I can't remember which ones they were.

I was just too excited, and I was only testing my candler at that.

Actually, my candler only worked well for the really large eggs. Then I got to much light through my hole to see the smaller ones well. And one has way too dark a shell. can't seem to see anything through it. Got to find a better way I guess.

 

[speckledhen]

Deniece, if you number each egg top and bottom when you collect them and write in a notebook which ones were questionable when you candle, then you can just go back and re-candle those particular ones. Best candler is an old slide projector-they have 300 watt bulbs or something like that. That's what I do.

 

[msbliss]

Cyn, thanks for your reply! I've been reading SO much on this site, I just remember it was a name I recognized about not candling.

Thanks also Silkie! Gahhh, think I'll order one of those "cool" running (as in heat-wise) pen looking things I've seen, maybe at McMurray or Strombergs? Is that what you use Silkie? Is that a good one?

Cowboy, good luck! It's encouraging to hear your early results. Were the eggs shipped? And sorry, my memory isn't what it used to be

LOL, how many eggs do you have in?

Didn't mean to minimize the egg blowing up thing, as I know nothing!! I will definitely candle, thanks for the input!

 

[speckledhen]

Actually, if you really don't want to do alot of candling, I'd just candle about 10-12 days. Before and after that, use your nose. Take out a plug and take a big whiff through the vent. You'll be able to tell if an egg has gone bad.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Oh yes, the nose is a VERY powerful tool when it comes to the sweet burning smell of rotting egg....

Candling pens. Interesting. I just use a high output flashlight but it is kind of expensive... I do however cary it in my pocket at all times so it is worth while.