How early and how often do you candle your eggs?

[casslarrabee225]

I'm a stay at home Momma so I'm here all day with the incubator and drive myself nuts wondering whats going on in those eggs! I start candling at day two. I am always able to see the germinal disc in the fertile eggs and I check for those. Then I check the progress every day usually when I get up in the morning then before I go to bed. How often do you check? Is there anything wrong with doing as often as I do?

 

[thebanthams]

Best to candled on 7 th day and then 18th day before lockdown. I wouldnt bother them much as you can do damage !!.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've had eggs that are difficult to see into so wait until day 10 to ensure any development is seen, discard clear eggs, then again on day 18 to cull any that stopped developing.

The only problem with constant handling of eggs is contamination and the mishaps of cracking them. Excess bacteria (constant handling) can lead to higher percentage of stopped development.

 

[Charm1704]

I know it's difficult , but I only candle twice to see if they are developing then again at lock down....bacteria will kill the embryos,~Charm1704

 

[casslarrabee225]

Wow! I had no idea! Is it the bacteria on your hands or in the air? I always wash my hands before and after handling them...

 

[mstricer]

It's on your hands. It is actually good to open the incubator daily up till day 18.

 

[mbleily]

It's on your hands. It is actually good to open the incubator daily up till day 18.

Do you mean that it is good to open the incubator daily for air exchange? I was wondering about that. I open mine only half way to move the eggs. The temp hardly changes because I have them all on a thing that I move them all together.

 

[comptonsgonecountry]

I candle mine twice before lockdown. Once on day 10 and the last time is on day 18 before lockdown. Then I occupy myself so I'm not hovering over the bator all hours of the day and night

.

 

[quintinp]

I candle mine a week after setting them, at 7 days they are very developed. I then candle them right before I put them into lock down.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

No, I tend to check on my eggs pretty frequently too.