The Poultry Keeper

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

How long can i keep the eggs out of the incubator while i candle them? ty

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2235 Location: South Cumbria

the broody often leaves the nest for 20 mins but according to my instructions candling can damage eyes if done too often ! maximum 3 times during incubation

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

This is my first time ever! not to sure what to look for, i put the eggs in on the 1st.. so counting day one from the 2nd, which means today is day 7, im planning on doing it again on day 14, any words of advice?

mojo · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

yes ........dont panic if you cant see anything you requonise..........i am the exception to the rule .......i never candle........and only discard duds after25 full days...............and it works for me...............that is the attracxtion of poultry keeping everyone can do it their way

NannyP · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject:

Before you candle, take a look at this link. Then you'll know what you;re looking for Very Happy

http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html

and another

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/candling-eggs.php

and this is the site where I learned to candle

http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/candling.shtml

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

Thanks Gilly, Mojo and NannyP very helpful Smile

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

Update! - I just candled my 12 Pekin eggs (day 7 today), first time ive ever done it! Anyway, id say about 4 of them were bright orange, and you cud see the light through them easily (no obvious shapes) non-fertile? But about 8 of them were dark and i could see little dark shapes in most of them.. chicks?

Im all excited!! Do you think my guesses are right?

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

sounds about right, i have just candled a batch of eggs for the second time and found that whilst only 2/6 looked fertile first time round, 5/6 are now looking good Very Happy

Fun isnt it! Laughing

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

YESSS!!!

its so exciting, i cant wait to see if any hatch, ill be so happy if i only got 2 out of the 12 Smile

Oooo made me smile - Forgot to say, i put the all 12 back in and ill candle them all again on day 14 Smile

NannyP · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject:

Your guesses sound right....sometimes you can just see the yolk, with the infertile ones. Hope the rest are okay on Day 14.
Very Happy

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 437 Location: Cornwall

Mojo, me neither. Only ever candled once I think many years ago.

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

Thanks NannyP im well excited now.. i just cant get it in my head that you can put eggs in a plastic warm box basically then 21 days later you will have new life.. im sooo excited i just hope they develope Smile

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

Do i stop turning the eggs 2 days before they pip? or 2 days before they are meant to hatch?

mojo · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

neither stop turning chicken eggs after 18 full days incubation ...........check water levels and then......................HAVE PATIENCE..........and good luck

JustChickens · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Sussex

Cool day 18. You count day 1 the day after you put the eggs in? Also when should i fill the second resevoir up?