Egg Candling

Embryo development

A baby chick starts with a fertilsed egg develops into a embryo and becomes a chick when it hatches from the egg, which typically occurs after 21 days of incubation. The development process can be outlined as follows:

1. Day 1-5: The embryo begins to develop organs and structures, starting with the heart and blood vessels.
2. Day 6-10: Major organs continue to develop, and the chick's body starts forming, including the eyes, beak, and limbs.
3. Day 11-17: The chick's feathers start to develop, and it continues to grow in size, filling more of the egg.
4. Day 18-21: The chick prepares for hatching, absorbs the remaining yolk for nourishment, and positions itself to break out of the egg.

The transformation from embryo to chick is considered complete once the chick has fully emerged from the egg, marking the transition from a developing embryo to an independent chick. 

The progress of the embryo can be monitored in a process called "candling" we cover this process below.

Candling

Candling is a process used to check the development and viability of an embryo inside an egg during incubation. It involves shining a light through the egg to observe the growth and condition of the embryo. Here's an outline of the candling process:

1. Purpose of Candling

• Assess Fertility: Determine if the egg is fertile or infertile early in the incubation process.
• Monitor Embryo Development: Track the growth and health of the embryo at different stages.
• Identify Problems: Detect any abnormalities, such as blood rings, dead embryos, or non-developing eggs.

2. When to Candle

• First Candling (Day 7-10): Check for fertility and early development.
• Second Candling (Day 14-17): Monitor further development, particularly the embryo’s size and movement.
• Final Candling (Day 18-19): Ensure the embryo is fully developed and preparing for hatching.

3. Equipment Needed

• Candling Light: A bright flashlight, LED light, or a specialized candling lamp.
• Dark Room: A dim or dark room to make it easier to see inside the egg.

4. How to Candle

• Prepare the Light Source: Ensure the light is bright and focused.
• Hold the Egg: Gently hold the egg with the larger end up, where the air cell is located.
• Illuminate the Egg: Place the light source close to the egg’s wider end and observe the contents.
• Interpret Findings: Look for signs of life (movement, veins, darkening mass) or issues (no development, blood rings, clear eggs).

5. Interpreting Results

• Fertile Egg: Visible network of veins and a dark spot indicating the embryo; movement may be observed.
• Infertile Egg: No development, appearing clear with no visible veins or embryo.
• Dead Embryo: Blood ring or stagnant, dark mass with no movement. Please note movement is only it the later stages and at any stage is hard to see.
• Healthy Development: Progressive darkening of the egg and movement as the embryo grows.

6. Handling Candling Findings

• Remove Infertile or Dead Eggs: Discard any eggs showing no development or signs of a dead embryo. If in doubt leave it in place.
• Marking Eggs: Mark eggs to track their development if needed.

7. Frequency

• Minimal Disturbance: Candle only a few times during incubation to avoid disturbing the eggs unnecessarily.

Candling is an essential tool for anyone incubating eggs, providing valuable insights into the progress of the embryos and helping ensure successful hatching.