When to candle

[vortec]

I candled on day 5 so when should I candle my eggs again? Thanks

vortec

 

[redroosta]

candle whenever you feel like it, just not after day 18

 

[hatchaholic]

You'll get all kinds of answers to this question. Some will tell you to candle often, some will tell you not to candle at all, then others will tell you everything in between the two!! There's no set rules...

 

[vortec]

Today is day 11, I was not sure of some of the eggs on day 5 so should I probably go ahead and look to see if all are still going strong?

vortec

 

[Chicky Tocks]

By all means! I candle usually around day 5. Then again at day 10. Again at day 15 and for the last time at day 18 before I lock down the bator.

 

[jacyjones]

I was like you and not sure of some eggs on day 5 so I candled at day 10 and got rid of 1 clear. It turned out I could also have got rid of 5 Marans but the shells are so dark I was never sure what I was seeing. I candled again on day 17. As people say - it is up to you really.

 

[vortec]

I know the feeling. I have 6 maran eggs and short of candling with the lights off, it is tough to see inside. I will candle this afternoon then to see what my progress is. Hopefully all 32 will pull through.

vortec

 

[Davaroo]

When can you candle? Anytime you want.
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If you are asking when should you candle, then here you go:

- When the eggs are set
- DAY 7
- DAY 14
- DAY 18 (optional)

WHAT you are looking for is as important as when. It's more important to look for signs of disease or death than signs of life.

Veins, bug-eyed blobs and the other "signs of life" make it all worthwhile, of course. This is what we want to see. But aside from maintaining conditions in the incubator, you can do little else about them.

But diseased or damaged eggs can surely undo all your good effort.
SO that is what you must be interested in knowing about.

Most people leap on the idea of removing clear, or infertile, eggs as a reason for candling.
This has become something of a "chicken urban legend," ie, you must get them out of there if they are infertile. I think this is partly because it gives us something to do during what is otherwise a rather boring 3 weeks. We are also advised to feed them back to the chickens, once they are removed.
But, you don't really need to take them out unless they are diseased, and you can feed them back at anytime - even as late as the end of the hatch.

We dont really need to candle as much as we think. The extra handling or changes to the incubators conditions can also add another variable where it isn't wanted.

I have had successful hatches come off with NO candling. It is fun and educational to do it, however, and I would only recommend you be judicious about it. DO it as needed and let it go beyond that.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Great post Dave!

 

[vortec]

Thanks! I am going to let it ride now that I got great results and let it go until day 18. Hopefully they will keep on pressing on. Thanks again for all of the insight!

vortec