Egg candling - can't tell if eggs are viable?

[Kentchicks]

Our hen kept on getting broody so we decided to buy 10 fertile eggs for her to sit on. She has been very dedicated so far, so that's all going well, and I lift her off the eggs 2 times a day so that she will eat something. Today is day 9 so I decided to candle the eggs with a small mag lite.... But whatever I tried, I found it really hard to tell if any of them are viable? I can't see any blood veins like you can see when you google images. The eggs shells are light brown so maybe that makes it difficult to candle them? Could anyone tell me what I should be able to see, and what are definite signs that my eggs are not viable? I don't want any egg to explode if they start rotting...

Thanks!

 

[fried green eggs]

If your mag light is powerful enough brown eggs should not be a problem to see inside. You should see some veining by day 9. If you go to The Learning Center forum on this site, it has pictures to help you. If you smell the eggs when you candle you will be able to tell if, one is bad and catch it before it would explode. Good Luck hope you really did get fertile eggs.

 

[Kentchicks]

Thanks for your very useful help. I had already checked the images on the Learning Center but my eggs just don't look the same. Maybe it's because my mag lite is not strong enough or maybe I am not candling in the right manner. Anyway, I will candle the eggs again in a couple of days to see if I can see any difference.... and will smell them if needed

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll ask a silly question. Are you candling in a pitch dark location? It really needs to be dark for candling, especially with brown eggs.

A stronger light might help. I make sure the batteries are fresh. There are different ways to candle. You need the light totally contained under the egg and not leaking. Some people make candlers. I just hold the egg in my hand, making a ring with my thumb and fingers and hold the light under that, positioning the light on the egg shell. I'm sure I'm doing it wrong, but that's the way I do it. You do get better with practice.

I usually candle at Day 7 or 8 and can usually tell if they are developing by the veining, but occasionally I make a mistake. I don't discard any eggs until I candle around Day 14. By then, the egg is either clear and definitely no good or it has a dark mass in it, which means it has a chance.

 

[Kentchicks]

I'll ask a silly question. Are you candling in a pitch dark location? It really needs to be dark for candling, especially with brown eggs.
A stronger light might help. I make sure the batteries are fresh. There are different ways to candle. You need the light totally contained under the egg and not leaking. Some people make candlers. I just hold the egg in my hand, making a ring with my thumb and fingers and hold the light under that, positioning the light on the egg shell. I'm sure I'm doing it wrong, but that's the way I do it. You do get better with practice.
I usually candle at Day 7 or 8 and can usually tell if they are developing by the veining, but occasionally I make a mistake. I don't discard any eggs until I candle around Day 14. By then, the egg is either clear and definitely no good or it has a dark mass in it, which means it has a chance.

Hi, thanks for your tips. It wasn't pitch black when I did the candling because I didn't want to take the eggs out of the nest (I was too worried I would drop one or shake them too much). I think the best is to candle them again around Day 14 and I will try your method.... i hope here will be some life in them!!

 

[3 NH reds]

I am new to this as well and I do not trust my self to candle well. My last batch was a bust but I left them there until day 21 and candled them and tossed them. Guess I got lucky with no eggs exploding. But I did get a super bright light for the last candling and that helped with the dark brown eggs.

 

[Kentchicks]

Just a quick note - I candled the eggs again today (Day 14) and 4 out of 10 have "something" in it... the other ones are definitely empty so I chucked them. I hope all 4 will hatch... and that they won't be 4 roosters

 

[Buckgawk]

by day 9 its already pretty dark inside the eggs because the embryo is getting big and blocking the light from passing through.. best viewing is from day 4-8 I think. If you cant see anything its probably a good sign.

 

[Kentchicks]

Good news - yesterday all 4 eggs hatched! Attached is the result The mum is very loving and caring.
One of the four is slightly darker in colour as you can see... a surprise egg? The other 3 are Light Sussex.

 

[fried green eggs]

I'm glad you have the new chicks! Congrats!