Advantages of the FRD-10 egg candler
Can accurately candle all poultry egg types including chickens, ducks and quail
Powered by a USB cable or portable battery case
Includes instructions on how to candle eggs
Free delivery to any Australian street address or PO Box
Introduction to egg candlers
What is an egg candler?
An egg candler (also called an egg candling torch) is a tool that uses a light focus beam and a bright light to observe the development of an embryo inside an egg during incubation.
Do I need an egg candler?
Most people with an egg incubator have an egg candler. An egg candler is optional, but having one provides the following advantages:
You can check how many of the eggs are fertile early in the incubation process. This means you’re alerted to any fertility issues early on rather than waiting until the hatch date. Knowing how many of the eggs are fertile also helps you plan for how many chicks you’ll need to take care of.
Any infertile eggs can be removed from your egg incubator. This prevents them from rotting. Rotting eggs can smell and may even break open, creating a mess in your egg incubator that’s difficult to clean. Removing infertile eggs will also create more room on the hatching tray for the chicks to hatc
You can watch the embryos develop throughout the incubation process. It’s always an exciting process to observe!
Any eggs that don’t hatch can be candled to help diagnose when the embryos stopped developing. This can help diagnose potential issues and improve future hatch rates.
Before setting eggs in your egg incubator, they can be candled to check for hairline cracks. Eggs with hairline cracks shouldn’t be incubated. Hairline cracks are difficult to spot with the naked eye but become clearly visible as white lines when using an egg candler.
What type of eggs can I candle using the FRD-10 egg candler?
The FRD-10 egg candler comes with a small light focus beam for quail eggs, and a large light focus beam for chicken, duck, guinea fowl, goose, turkey and any other medium to large size poultry eggs. The FRD-10 egg candler can even candle dark-coloured eggs, such as Marans chicken eggs.
Candling eggs
How do I candle eggs using an egg candler?
For the best results, eggs should be candled in a dark environment. Waiting until night-time and switching off other lights will create the best environment to candle eggs. Try not to leave your egg incubator switched off with the lid open for more than five minutes when candling eggs.
Start by holding the larger, rounded end of the egg against the light focus beam of the egg candler. There should be a secure fit between the light focus beam and the egg. It’s a good idea to first candle an egg that has not been incubated to see how light travels straight through. An infertile egg will not develop and will look the same as an egg that hasn’t been incubated.
If the egg is fertile, the light will illuminate signs of development. At day seven, blood vessels will be visible throughout a fertilised chicken egg. By the 14th day of chicken egg incubation, it’s often possible to see the embryo move inside the egg. On the 18th day, most of the light travelling through a fertile chicken egg will be blocked by the large embryo.
Is it possible to test the fertility of eggs under a broody hen with the FRD-10 egg candler?
Yes, the FRD-10 egg candler can be used to candle eggs from an egg incubator or broody hen. The portable battery case makes it easy to use anywhere.
When and how often can eggs be candled during the incubation process?
Eggs can be candled after the 5th day of incubation until three days before they are due to hatch. The developing embryos are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations during the first five days of incubation, so it's best not to candle them during this time. Candling eggs during the final three days of incubation should be avoided, as the incubator must maintain a higher and stable relative humidity level during this time.
Eggs can be candled as often as once per day between day six and three days before the hatch is due to occur. If your egg incubator requires you to open the lid to refill the water channel, it’s a good idea to candle the eggs at the same time.
What should I do with any eggs that aren’t fertile?
Any eggs that aren’t fertile will not hatch and should be removed from the egg incubator. If you’re unsure whether an egg is fertile or not, it’s best to continue to incubate it to be safe.
