To candle or not to candle?

[connieconnie]

To candle or not to candle? That is the question. (Sorry for the terrible pun )

But truly, how much should you candle during chicken egg incubation.?

I've got 24 shipped eggs in the incubator and already lost 4. I've read so many posts, sites and article on this, all have very varying opinions (from every day, to only once!). So I am thoroughly bamboozled.

I'm on day 9 today, and I candled before they went in the incubator, day 6 and day 8. But now I'm think that it's too often. I want to get the best hatch rate possible with these shipped eggs. A batch from one breeder, came with really loose air sacks and half of them scrambled. I think only one is growing from the 6 I have a suspicion they gave me older eggs...

How many times should I candle throughout the incubation process and on what days? Specifically for shipped eggs (which are probably a bit more delicate).

Thank you for all the help and advice, I'm a complete newbie to chickens and I'm really appreciating all the advice and friendly people on this site

 

[Punkybrewster]

No matter where i get my eggs, shipped or my own flock, i candle day 7, 10, and 18.

On day 10 i get rid of the duds. On day 18 I do the same then go into lockdown.

 

[MGG]

I did day 5, 7, 14, and 18 with my shipped eggs. It worked well and I had a 95% hatch rate. Just make sure you have at least one calibrated thermometer in the incubator at egg level so you know what the temp is. Also, move the eggs to different spots in the incubator so they all incubate evenly. Most incubators have cool spots and hot spots. You just want to rotate the eggs in and out of them. Good luck with your eggs!

 

[connieconnie]

No matter where i get my eggs, shipped or my own flock, i candle day 7, 10, and 18.

On day 10 i get rid of the duds. On day 18 I do the same then go into lockdown.

smart candling a bit later after the first candle (10 after 7), then I suppose you'll be certain if they're growing or not

 

[connieconnie]

I did day 5, 7, 14, and 18 with my shipped eggs. It worked well and I had a 95% hatch rate. Just make sure you have at least one calibrated thermometer in the incubator at egg level so you know what the temp is. Also, move the eggs to different spots in the incubator so they all incubate evenly. Most incubators have cool spots and hot spots. You just want to rotate the eggs in and out of them. Good luck with your eggs!

95%! that's amazing! maybe because I'm a newbie, I have not had that in my first incubation (only 4/12 ) or the one just started (already down to 20/24 on day 9)! I really hope that I'll get as good as you in the future!

I have a calibrated thermometer and hygrometer in at all times, so I can make sure the incubators not over or under heating. And as the incubator is in my bedroom next to my desk, I can watch it all day from my desk (and night if I want to, from my bed). Every two days I've been moving the eggs to a different spot in the incubator (I've actually done a map, to show the movements, so each egg experiences all the places in the incubator ). So far I've managed to keep the temperature between 37.5 and 37.9 degrees Celsius at all times. But I do have to open the incubator every 4 hours to turn the eggs (because of the loose air sacks, I've been keeping them pointy end down in an egg carton and just rotating on their points).

Thank you so much for the help, please point out if I'm doing anything wrong, I want to learn from all my mistakes!

 

[MGG]

95%! that's amazing! maybe because I'm a newbie, I have not had that in my first incubation (only 4/12 ) or the one just started (already down to 20/24 on day 9)! I really hope that I'll get as good as you in the future!

I have a calibrated thermometer and hygrometer in at all times, so I can make sure the incubators not over or under heating. And as the incubator is in my bedroom next to my desk, I can watch it all day from my desk (and night if I want to, from my bed). Every two days I've been moving the eggs to a different spot in the incubator (I've actually done a map, to show the movements, so each egg experiences all the places in the incubator ). So far I've managed to keep the temperature between 37.5 and 37.9 degrees Celsius at all times. But I do have to open the incubator every 4 hours to turn the eggs (because of the loose air sacks, I've been keeping them pointy end down in an egg carton and just rotating on their points).

Thank you so much for the help, please point out if I'm doing anything wrong, I want to learn from all my mistakes!

You sound like you're doing great! Its all a learning experience. Never give up.

 

[cmom]

In years past I candled the eggs quite frequently. Now I usually candle a few eggs around two weeks into incubation but candle all of the eggs when I put them in the hatchers. I toss out the blanks and any that are questionable I mark (X). A few times I have been surprised.

 

[goat114]

My friend candled last night on day 13 then after that no more candling because were getting close to hatch day. May 5th-7th is hatching days

 

[connieconnie]

You sound like you're doing great! Its all a learning experience. Never give up.

Thank you

 

[connieconnie]

In years past I candled the eggs quite frequently. Now I usually candle a few eggs around two weeks into incubation but candle all of the eggs when I put them in the hatchers. I toss out the blanks and any that are questionable I mark (X). A few times I have been surprised.
View attachment 2117180

Oh my goodness you got me so distracted on the cuteness of that photo! Those fluffy legs what breed?

I candled a lot on my first batch (quite literally every 2 days ), and my hatch suffered. So does that mean you only candle twice throughout the whole incubation? Wow, I really did over candle! This is really helpful thank you!