Regarding candling...?

[huntsman]

I've just been researching candling eggs and have some questions...

Does one candle all eggs, including those with a brood hen?

Are eggs candled only once, or several times? I'm guessing the latter if the first check wasn't conclusive?

Thank you for the input.

 

[CindyG]

SOME people (ahem ahem) like to candle a lot just to see that there is a little chickie actually developing. It never gets old. Seriously, I've seen all sorts of advice, only once at 7 days, never during lockdown, etc etc. I figure it can't hurt to take a look whenever you feel you need to. I don't actually candle during lockdown, but that's the only restriction I put on myself.

 

[huntsman]

Thanks, Cindy -

Ahem....what's lockdown?

I'm guessing a period close to hatching, perhaps?

 

[CMV]

You candle eggs when you want to know what's inside them. Sometimes that's because you are trying to hatch babies or sometimes it's because you want to sell eggs that have no flaws (like meat spots).

 

[yelim]

Can blood spots be seen in brown eggs by candling?

 

[CMV]

Brown eggs are harder to candle, and frequently blood and meat spots are missed. Meat spots are easier to see because they are a compact mass, whereas blood spots are more diffused thus difficult to spot during candling.

 

[CindyG]

Yeah, lockdown is the last three days before the anxiously awaited hatch date, where you don't touch them, no turning, no candling. Just keep the temp and humidity constant. I'm approaching that now with six Serama eggs from my own birds, and will be hovering over the bator trying to hear peeping or see pipping. I look like a loonie! Lots of fun though.

 

[CindyG]

Hey, Huntsman, I just noticed you're from SA, whereabouts? We lived in Jo'burg for three years while my husband was working there. Loved it!! You must be heading into summer now, are the jacarandas blooming yet. Oh, I miss it!

 

[huntsman]

Thanks for the replies, folks!

Cindy -

I'm in Edenvale, close to JHB airport, and Summer has definitely arrived!

Jacarandas normally bloom first week in November, which is beautiful as you obviously know, though my lone jac tree is but a 'pullet'!!

You guys were based in Dainfern, I guess? If so, I have a lil' gift shop over the road in the Broadacres Centre...

 

[CindyG]

Hi Huntsman, we were right in the heart of Jo'burg, in Craighall. I remember the trees meeting over the streets, with that lovely purple hazy bloom. Beautiful. What kind of chickens do you have?