Official BYC Poll: Do You Candle Your Eggs? If So, How Often?

[My15Ducks]

I candle at day 7 to remove infertile eggs, and after that I candle around every 3-4 days. In the last couple days I candle every day to monitor for internal pip

 

[Rethia]

I candled my first batch on days 6, 12, and 18 before lockdown. I like candling them a little more, but not too much. I also weigh the eggs on the first day and on candling days.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

For goose eggs I candle day 10, 14, 20 and 25 (Lockdown). Sometimes a few extra candlings depending on if I'm bored.

Chicken eggs I'll be doing day 7, 14, 18 (Lockdown).

 

[fluffycrow]

Depends on what is doing the brooding/hatching.

If I’m using the incubator, then I candle on day 0 for serious cracks I missed during collecting, then day 7 for viability and air cell development checks, day 14 (same as day 7), and day 18 for air cell development checks and lockdown.

When the hatching is done by a broody, I’ve been taught by this site that there’s really no reason to candle them, the broody is perfectly capable of handling the whole thing on her own. I’m still not great at that rule, but the intent is there . The only exception is if I know for a fact that another hen is adding to the nest. I don’t want a staggered hatch, so at night (or late afternoon) I candle and remove the fresh eggs. So far that doesn’t seem to cause too much stress to the broody hens and pullets

 

[Altairsky]

Just once on day 10 to remove sterile eggs. There is no option for that so I didn't vote.
Candling at lockdown is pointless IMHO unless there has been an issue with late incubation. There isn't much to see and usually quitter quits early.

 

[Altairsky]

The only exception is if I know for a fact that another hen is adding to the nest.

I mark the eggs that I want to incubate with a pencil, all around, so I know that any unmarked egg has to be removed. It's easier, faster, and less stressful for the broody hen.

 

[fluffycrow]

I mark the eggs that I want to incubate with a pencil, all around, so I know that any unmarked egg has to be removed. It's easier, faster, and less stressful for the broody hen.

I do the same. If so, you will have noticed that the marking rubs off after five days or so. A smaller, more discrete marking, after 2.

For one to keep the markings clearly visible, one would need to draw over them with the pencil quite often; I find the constant reapplication of the markings to be just as disturbing as candling. What could work better would be a permanent marker. Haven’t tried that yet

 

[Altairsky]

Honestly my pencil leaves a quite permanent marking, and I never had to reapply. Maybe it's the pencil type or maybe my broody is less oily (she is rumpless)

 

[Ridgerunner]

Maybe it's the pencil type

Markings from soft leaded pencil last a lot longer than from a hard leaded pencil. I learned that over 6 decades ago.

 

[fluffycrow]

Honestly my pencil leaves a quite permanent marking, and I never had to reapply. Maybe it's the pencil type or maybe my broody is less oily (she is rumpless)

Could be both. I’ve used most types of pencil, most notably 2B and some HB. Haven’t noticed a significant difference