How to Tell if a Pigeon Egg Is Fertile: A Day-by-Day Candling Guide

Wondering how to tell if a pigeon egg is fertile? Guessing at a bright shell wastes days, lowers hatch rates, and can even leave dangerous exploders in your incubator. This guide gives you a simple, low-stress routine: candle briefly in a dark room on Days 5–7 to spot spider-web veins, recheck on Day 14 to confirm growth, and remove non-viable eggs before they endanger the clutch. You’ll get the exact tools, safe-handling steps, clear visuals for fertile vs. clear vs. blood ring, plus biosecurity and US/UK legal notes—so you can make the right call, fast.

TL;DR (30-second checklist)

• When: Days 5–7 first check → Day 14 decisive recheck → avoid routine candling in the last 2–3 days.

• What to see:

  • Fertile/viable: veins, then growing dark shadow/movement, air cell enlarges.

  • Infertile/early dead: clear (no veins) or blood ring.

• How to do it: Dark room, bright LED, ≤ 60–90 s/egg, air-cell up, gentle handling, log results.

• Next step: Remove clear or blood-ring eggs early to reduce bacteria and exploders.

What You’ll Need (tools & environment)

Light & gear

• Bright LED candler or tight-beam flashlight/torch

• Timer to cap viewing time

• Soft pad to prevent slipping

• Clean, dry hands or gloves; alcohol wipes for quick sanitizing

• Pencil for shell marks (never ink)

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Room setup

• Work in a darkened room beside the incubator.

• Cycle quickly: open → take one egg → close → candle → replace.

Handling rules

• Keep it ≤ 60–90 seconds per egg.

• Hold the blunt end (air cell) to the light, tilt slightly, rotate slowly.

• Record the day and what you saw.

When to Check (timeline)

Day 5–7 — first reliable window

You can usually separate fertile vs. clear now. Look for fine red veins radiating from a central point. A clear egg stays uniformly translucent with no veins.

Day 10–12 — optional mid-course look

Development should be obvious: the dark area expands, a flicker of embryo movement may be visible, and the air cell is slightly larger.

Day 14 — decisive recheck

Most of the interior appears dark; the air cell at the blunt end is the main bright zone. Cull any eggs that remain clear or show a blood ring.

Pre-hatch (last 2–3 days) — minimize disturbance

Chicks are positioning for piping; avoid routine candling unless troubleshooting.

How to Candle Safely (step-by-step)

1) Prep

Wash/dry hands or wear gloves. Prepare a simple log: date · egg mark · result · notes. Use a pencil to mark shells (A/B/C…).

2) Position

Hold with the air cell to the light. Tilt 15–30° and rotate to scan the interior—no shaking.

3) Observe

Look for spider-web veins, a dark embryo shadow, any movement, air-cell size/shape, plus cracks, seepage, stains.

4) Record

Write objective notes. If unsure at Day 5–7, mark recheck and look again on Day 10–14 before deciding.

What a Fertile Pigeon Egg Looks Like

Day 5–7

• Clear, branching veins from a small darker spot.

• The egg is no longer uniformly translucent.

Day 10–12

• The shadow grows; movement may appear at the edge of the dark zone.

• The air cell enlarges at the blunt end.

Day 14

• Most of the egg is dark; the air cell is obvious; movement may still be seen along the border.

Air cell & humidity (quick note)

Across poultry, the air cell enlarges as moisture leaves the egg. A total weight-loss target ≈ 11–13% through incubation typically produces a healthy air cell; big deviations suggest humidity adjustments.

What an Infertile or Early-Dead Egg Looks Like

Clear egg (infertile)

• Uniformly translucent, no veins at Day 5–7 and still clear at Day 10–14 → remove.

Blood ring (early death)

• A distinct red ring around the inner shell surface → remove to protect the rest.

Late-dead signs

• No movement late, odor, weeping or hairline cracks, odd air cell → treat as non-viable and remove.

Biosecurity & Next Steps

Why removal matters

Non-viable eggs can rot, leak, or explode, spreading bacteria and dragging down hatch rates.

How to remove & dispose

• Work swiftly. Lights off → lift the egg → seal & discard per local rules (or consult your vet).

• Sanitize trays and hands before continuing.

Preventing exploders

• Make Day 14 your decisive cull point.

• Keep the incubator clean, manage humidity/ventilation, and avoid long open-lid sessions.

Scaling up with tidy handling and less lid time? Try an automatic egg incubator with 3 trays to keep batches organized and easy to candle.

Legal & Ethical Notes (US, UK/EU)

United States

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) protects most native wild birds, nests, and eggs. Domestic pigeons/rock pigeons (introduced) are generally not covered, but state/local rules may apply. This guide addresses legally kept domestic pigeons only.

United Kingdom / European Union

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to take, damage, or possess wild birds’ eggs without a licence. This guidance applies to domestic pigeons kept legally.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Is the float test reliable?

No for fertility/viability. It’s a rough freshness/density check and can mislead. Prefer candling.

Will candling harm the embryo?

Brief candling with a bright LED in a dark room does not harm embryos when kept short and gentle.

Phone light vs. candler?

A phone/flashlight can work, but a purpose-built candler gives a brighter, tighter beam with minimal heat—easier to see veins and the air cell.

Can’t see veins at Day 7?

Recheck at Day 10–14. Still clear? Treat as infertile/early dead and remove.

Thick/pigmented shells reduce visibility?

Use a stronger, tighter beam; you may need a few extra seconds, but still keep within ≤ 60–90 s.

Printables & Further Reading

• Candling checklist (one page): tools · steps · safety · result codes.

• Day-by-day card: what to expect on Days 5–7 / 10–12 / 14.

• For temps, humidity, and timing from setup to hatch, see our Hatching Pigeon Eggs Guide

Conclusion

To confidently decide how to tell if a pigeon egg is fertile, follow a two-checkpoint routine: Days 5–7 for first veins, Day 14 to confirm growth and remove non-viable eggs. Keep candling brief, handle gently, and maintain a stable incubator. Early, informed decisions protect the clutch—and raise your hatch success.