when to candle very dark marans and olive egger eggs?

[Minky]

When is the ideal day to candle these dark shelled eggs.
I've candled my EE eggs before but these are much darker.
Also, I am using flashlight up through toilet paper roll. LOL

 

[Charwolf]

I was not able to candle my Maran eggs...I tried at day 4, 7, 10 and 14. I bought 2 different candlers and a high powered flashlight....couldn’t see a single thing. I know my response isn’t Any help at all but just wanted to say if you find a flashlight/candler that works please update us lol. You get to see inside your eggs.

 

[oregonkat]

I found that with my BCM eggs, its the air cell that is the thing to watch. Seeing any movement through these shells, as you already know, is very difficult. Generally for me, if the air cell looks good and is making progress through incubation, things are moving along. They also seem to do best when incubated slightly drier than lighter eggs because the egg shells are thicker.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Day 11-14 in a very dark room you can only tell if they are clear, you sometimes can see them move. I just remove the clear ones and hope for the best.

 

[Minky]

Ok, Charwolf- good to know. I won't worry about it then.

I found that with my BCM eggs, its the air cell that is the thing to watch. Seeing any movement through these shells, as you already know, is very difficult. Generally for me, if the air cell looks good and is making progress through incubation, things are moving along. They also seem to do best when incubated slightly drier than lighter eggs because the egg shells are thicker.

OregonKat- when should I candle for the air cell? Out of 47 eggs, about 35 are very dark.

 

[Minky]

Does anyone ever do the float/wiggle test in water on day 18 before entering into lockdown?

 

[oregonkat]

Does anyone ever do the float/wiggle test in water on day 18 before entering into lockdown?

No, no, no, please dont do this! Especially before the eggs are even at their hatch date. This test is not really reliable and should only be done as a very last resort if your eggs are significantly past their hatch date.

When you candle your BCM eggs, try to wait until day 7 or even better day 10 in your cycle and the air cell will show at the fat end of the egg when holding the flashlight against that end. Mark the air cell with a pencil and then you can track its progress when you candle again.

 

[Minky]

ok so candle air cell day 10. then candle air cell again on day 18... to check air cell and remove turner. then don't open again.

When I do the cancelling.....should I take out, say 6 at a time, keep lid closed while cancelling those 6, return them, take 6 more , repeat???

 

[oregonkat]

How many eggs are we talking about total? I usually do mine one at a time.

 

[Minky]

There are 47 eggs- I'd imagine I shouldn't open the incubator 47 times!