When do you candle the first time?

[LauraCTChick]

We candled on day 8 and day 15. The kids, DH and I love to see the movement. I would candle more but we're new at this and I'm totally afraid of something going wrong.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Day 7 and day 18. Any earlier and you are risking taking out a good egg because you can't see the veining. Any time in between you are risking dropping a developing egg and cracking it. I've done it...it's a terrible feeling.

If you have the kind of bator that holds them upright, you can remove the lid and hold the candling flashlight down over them without picking them up.

I used to candle all the time because I was a candle-holic...until I dropped one. Now I restrain myself and find something else to do when I feel like candling...like eat something...