The Poultry Keeper

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

i tried candling doris's 7 eggs, and all i could see was loads of mottling, like dots, all over the shells, but no veins. i am not entirely sure what a healthy growing egg should look like, but i am fretting that they are all dead. Sad

there were two occasions where i found the eggs moved out of the nest box and i wasnt sure how long they had been in the main house, they were cooler than normal but not stone cold. so i worry that this has killed them off. of course i put them straight back under her, but i just cant tell what i am looking for when candling. she has been sitting for 11 days now.

help!! Sad

NannyP · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 11:21 am Post subject:

All you can do is wait and hope. I'm not sure what eggs you're hatching, but maran and welsummer eggs (being dark) are really hard to see?
http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/Candling.htm
Not sure if you seen this, hope it helps.
Very Happy

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

thanks for that link nannyp, i dont think i did the candling right. will try again tonight.

Weebil · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 22 Location: North Bristol

Hi

Try this link:
http://www.homestead.com/shilala/candling.html

The problem with candling is its easy - but only if you know what your looking for.
On day 11 you should see lots of veins and a dark blob in the middle.
The other thing I never see mentioned is that eggs that are fertile give off a distinctive red glow when candled, even after a few days, and it gets redder every day before the veins are visible. Try comparing an egg from the kitchen with the eggs you are testing.

But I would say stick with it until you are sure.

Hope this helps
Regards
Steve

mojo · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

i dont candle to save heartache.just wait up to 25 days before abonding hope........good luck

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

weebil - the four i tried again tonight all look like the 'porous' one on your link (2nd column, 3rd pic down). i cant see any blood spots, yolks, veins - nothing except the pores all over. but they are all from different chooks, and at least 2 different breeds. any ideas?? have i got a duff batch? Sad

NannyP · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 7:28 am Post subject:

Don't give up, just leave it a few more days and then candle again. I could never really be sure until Day 16 onwards, and then it was much clearer.
Looking for a good air space is another way to tell I think?

Weebil · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 22 Location: North Bristol

I would go by what Nanny P says, at least you can be sure that if, by day 16 you still can't see anything, then they are duff Sad

Regards
Steve