When to Candle Chicken Eggs for the Best Hatching Results

You want a successful hatch every time you incubate eggs. Timing matters when you candle chicken eggs. You should check your eggs on Day 7, Day 14, and sometimes Day 18. You can spot healthy embryos and remove eggs that will not lead to a successful hatch. You give your chicks a better chance for a successful hatch when you know when to candle. Each step helps you work toward a successful hatch. Use these tips to support a successful hatch in your flock.

• Day 7: Look for early signs of a successful hatch.
• Day 14: Confirm progress for a successful hatch.
• Day 18: Final check to protect your successful hatch.

Key Takeaways

• Candle chicken eggs on Day 7, Day 14, and Day 18 to monitor embryo development and improve hatch success.
• Look for blood vessels and movement on Day 7 to identify viable eggs; remove any that show no signs of growth.
• On Day 14, confirm embryo growth and remove non-viable eggs to enhance overall hatch rates.
• Perform a final check on Day 18 to ensure embryos are ready for hatching; remove any eggs that do not appear viable.
• Handle eggs gently during candling to protect embryos; use a strong light in a dark room for the best visibility.

What Is Candling Chicken Eggs and Why It Matters

How to Candle Eggs: The Basics

You can use candling chicken eggs to check what is happening inside each egg during incubation. This process lets you see if the embryo is growing well or if the egg is not fertile. You need a bright light and a dark room to see inside the egg. Follow these steps for how to candle eggs:

1. Prepare the eggs. Clean them gently and label each one. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature before you start.
2. Set up your device. Place a strong light source at the larger end of the egg. The dark room helps you see details inside the shell.
3. Handle the eggs with care. Hold each egg gently and avoid shaking or dropping it. Limit the time each egg spends under the light.
4. Interpret the results. Look for a clear yolk shadow and visible blood vessels. These signs show healthy embryo development. If the egg looks clear, it may not be fertile.

Tip: Always wash your hands before handling eggs. Clean hands help protect the embryos from germs.

Why Candling Chicken Eggs Improves Hatch Success

You improve your hatch rate when you candle eggs at the right times. This practice helps you spot problems early and remove eggs that will not hatch. Poultry keepers use candling to:

• Detect fertility and remove infertile eggs.
• Monitor embryo growth and development.
• Identify defects like blood rings or cracked shells.
• Ensure the quality and viability of eggs and chicks.
• Reduce waste by removing non-viable eggs.
• Support efficient and sustainable poultry production.

Candling started as a simple way to check eggs. Today, you use advanced tools to see inside even thick or opaque shells. You can track embryo health and spot issues before they affect your hatch. Regular candling helps you manage your flock and gives your chicks the best chance for a healthy start.

When to Candle Chicken Eggs During Incubation

Day 7: Early Signs of Life

You should candle chicken eggs on Day 7 to check for early signs of embryo development. This step helps you see which eggs are fertile and which ones are not growing. Poultry science research recommends candling on Day 7 and Day 10 to assess fertilization and viability. You can spot important changes inside the egg at this stage.

Here is what you might see when you candle eggs on Day 7:

If you see blood vessels and a dark area at the top, the embryo is developing well. A clear egg or one with a blood ring means the egg is not viable. You should remove eggs that show no signs of growth. This step helps you focus on eggs with healthy embryos.

Note: Temperature and humidity play a big role in embryo development. High temperatures can speed up growth but may cause problems if they go above or below the ideal range. You should keep your incubator settings steady for the best results.

Day 14: Confirming Development and Removing Non-Viable Eggs

Day 14 is a key time to candle chicken eggs. You confirm which embryos are growing and remove eggs that will not hatch. At this stage, the embryo is much larger and more active. You may see movement when you candle the egg.

Look for these features on Day 14:

• The network of blood vessels is more pronounced.
• The embryo is larger and may move inside the egg.
• The air cell at the large end of the egg is visible.

You can use this table to match developmental milestones with candling days:

You should remove eggs that do not show these signs. This step supports a higher hatch rate and helps you avoid problems later. Removing non-viable eggs at this stage is humane because research shows embryos do not feel pain until after Day 12.

Day 18: Final Check Before Lockdown

You can perform a final candling on Day 18 before you start the lockdown phase. This check helps you identify any eggs that will not hatch and lets you see if the embryo fills the shell. The interior of the egg should look dark, with only the air cell visible at the blunt end.

Here is what you should look for on Day 18:

• The embryo fills most of the egg, leaving only the air cell.
• The interior appears dark.
• The air cell is centered at the blunt end and is the right size.
• Minimal movement is normal at this stage.
• A dead embryo will not fill the egg and may look murky or smell rotten.

A properly developed egg will show a dark interior, including the tip. The air cell should have a good slope. If you see light by the air cell line, the egg may not be ready for lockdown. Performing a final candling does not change the number of eggs that hatch, but it helps you remove non-viable eggs and know when the hatching process is complete.

Tip: When to candle eggs matters for hatch success. You should candle chicken eggs on Day 7, Day 14, and Day 18 to monitor embryo development and improve your results.

What to Look for When Candling Chicken Eggs

Signs of Healthy Embryo Development

When you candle chicken eggs, you want to see clear signs that the embryo is growing well. Healthy, fertilized eggs show several features as they develop. You can use these signs to check for development and make sure your eggs are on track.

• Blood vessels form a clear network inside the shell. These lines spread out from the embryo and look like tiny red threads.
• A dark spot appears, which is the embryo itself. This spot gets bigger as the days pass.
• You may notice movement when you gently tilt the egg. This shows the embryo is alive and active.
• By day 14, the embryo becomes a larger dark mass. The veins may not stand out as much, but you should still see them.
• The air cell at the large end of the egg grows over time. This space should be easy to spot and gets bigger as the chick develops.
• Near the end of incubation, the embryo fills most of the shell. The air cell should look well-defined and reach its final size.
• Minimal movement is normal just before hatching.

If you see these signs, you know your fertilized eggs are developing as they should. Checking if eggs are fertile at each stage helps you spot problems early.

Identifying Non-Viable or Infertile Eggs

You need to know how to tell if an egg is fertile or not. Candling gives you a way to spot eggs that will not hatch. Infertile eggs often look clear inside, with no blood vessels or dark spots. Sometimes, you may see a blood ring, which means the embryo stopped growing. These eggs will not develop into chicks.

Candling is a common method for checking if eggs are fertile. If you leave non-fertile eggs in the incubator, they can spoil and risk contaminating the rest. Removing them early keeps your fertile eggs safe and healthy. Many poultry keepers lose money each year because they do not remove non-viable eggs in time. You can avoid this by candling at the right times and removing eggs that show no signs of life.

Tip: Always candle your eggs in a dark room and use a strong light. This makes it easier to see the details inside each egg.

How to Candle Eggs Safely and Effectively

Handling Eggs with Care

You need to handle eggs gently during the candling process to protect the developing embryos. Always start by grading and sorting your eggs before you begin. Hold each egg at a slant when you candle it. This position helps you see the air cell, yolk, and white more clearly. Use your thumb and first two fingers to grip the egg. Rotate it quickly but carefully to view the entire inside. Avoid shaking or dropping eggs, as this can damage the embryo. Limit the number of times you take eggs out of the incubator. Too much handling can increase the risk of contamination and lower your hatch rate.

Tip: Candle eggs from the fat end or air cell end for the best visibility. Early in development, you may candle from the side, but later it becomes harder to see inside unless you use the rounded end.

Choosing the Best Candling Tool

Selecting the right tool makes a big difference when you learn how to candle an egg. You can use a simple bright flashlight or a specialized egg candler. Some advanced hatcheries use laser imaging for more detailed views. The table below shows two common techniques:

For most backyard poultry keepers, a strong LED flashlight works well. Make sure your tool is clean and safe for use around eggs. If you want to know how to candle an egg with better results, choose a tool that gives you a clear view without overheating the shell.

Avoiding Common Candling Mistakes

You can improve your hatch rate by avoiding mistakes during the candling process. Many people discard viable eggs because they candle too early. Wait until the recommended days before deciding if an egg is not developing. Handling shipped eggs too soon can detach fragile air cells. Over-handling increases the risk of contamination, which can lead to dead chicks. Dropping eggs during candling can damage others in the batch. Opening the incubator too often causes heat and humidity loss, which affects hatching success.

Here are some ways to avoid these mistakes:

• Limit handling and only candle eggs when necessary.
• Look for red flags, such as eggs with no signs of development or a bad smell, and remove them.
• Seek advice from experienced poultry keepers if you are unsure about how to candle an egg or egg viability.

Egg candling helps you detect infertile and early dead embryos. Advancements in candling technology allow hatcheries to automatically exclude unsuitable eggs, improving overall results.

Troubleshooting When Candling Chicken Eggs

Uncertain Results: What to Do

Sometimes, candling does not give you a clear answer. You may see shadows or faint lines but cannot tell if the embryo is alive. Do not rush to remove these eggs. Many eggs develop slower than others. Give them a few more days in the incubator and check again. If you still feel unsure, compare the egg to others of the same age. Look for movement or changes in the air cell.

You can use this table to help decide what to do when results are unclear:

Tip: Always keep eggs in the incubator until you are sure they are not developing. Patience often leads to better hatch rates.

Dealing with Blood Rings and Other Issues

Blood rings can confuse even experienced poultry keepers. A blood ring usually means the embryo died early, but sometimes it looks like normal growth. If you see a blood ring, mark the egg and watch for changes. Remove the egg only if you see no progress after a few days.

Here are some common problems you might see during candling and how to handle them:

You can prevent many problems by following best practices. Use healthy, mature breeders and store eggs in a cool, humid place for no more than 10 days. Keep your incubator clean and set to the right temperature and humidity. Feed your flock a balanced diet to support strong embryos.

🐣 Note: Careful candling and good flock management help you avoid most hatching problems. Stay patient and observant for the best results.

You give your chicks the best start when you candle chicken eggs on Day 7, Day 14, and Day 18. Each stage offers a unique benefit:

1. Day 7: You spot blood vessels and embryo movement.
2. Day 14: You confirm growth and remove non-viable eggs.
3. Day 18: You check final development and positioning.

Regular candling helps you catch problems early and improve chick health. The table below shows how this process supports better outcomes:

When you candle chicken eggs with care, you manage your flock better and enjoy more successful hatches.

FAQ

How often should you candle chicken eggs during incubation?

You should candle eggs three times: Day 7, Day 14, and Day 18. These days help you check embryo growth and remove non-viable eggs. Avoid candling more often to protect developing chicks.

What kind of light works best for candling eggs?

A strong LED flashlight or a specialized egg candler works best. You need a bright, focused beam to see inside the shell. Avoid using heat-producing bulbs to prevent damage.

Can you candle brown or speckled eggs?

You can candle brown or speckled eggs, but you may need a brighter light. The shell color makes it harder to see details. Hold the egg close to the light source for better results.

What should you do if you see a blood ring?

A blood ring means the embryo stopped developing. You should remove the egg from the incubator. This step helps prevent contamination and protects healthy eggs.