 Candling Fertile EggsCandling eggs allows you to monitor the development of the embryos inside the eggs. By candling eggs through the incubation process, it is possible to estimate the hatch rate before the chicks hatch. |
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Candling Fertile Eggs
The best time to candle eggs is at 14 days into the incubation period. It's always best to use a purpose-built egg candler, as trying to candle eggs without a proper egg candler can give inaccurate or misleading results.
For the most accurate results, eggs should be candled in a dark environment. Candling can be used to check the fertility of eggs set under a hen or in an incubator. Try to limit the time that the eggs spend unincubated to under five minutes. Never candle eggs after the 17th day into the incubation process.
To candle an egg, hold it up against the egg candler with the largest round side of the egg facing the light beam. It's a good idea to first candle an egg that has not been incubated to see how light travels straight through. When candling a fertile egg the light will be blocked by the developing embryo inside. The development of membranes within the egg should also be clear.
It is often possible to see movement within the egg after 14 days of incubation.
Choosing the Right Egg Candler
If you don't already own a high-quality egg candler, then be sure to check out Poultry Australia's egg candlers. All are guaranteed to provide the highest accuracy to eliminate the guesswork involved with other egg candlers.
This image shows an infertile egg being candled with an FRD-10 egg candler. The light produced by the candler travels straight through the infertile egg.
This image is of a fertile egg taken at 14 days into the incubation process. Much of the light is blocked by the developing embryo inside. Membrane structure can also be seen around the air sac at the base of the egg.