[geebee]

I've been reading recent posts about candling but still not sure what I'm seeing. It's roughly day 14 - I'd just left the eggs my 2 bantams hadbeen laying then noticed one was only coming out of the coop when I brought food, after a couple of days she wasn't coming out at all so moved her & the eggs. I tried candling them tonight using a box I'd rigged up & very bright torch. I could see a dark mass & what I think was an air sac in all of them but no movement. The last one had 2 big eyes so definately a chick there. Is the dark mass the chick?

[jaykay]

Yes, the dark mass is the chick You don't always get much movement at this stage. An infertile egg is called a 'clear' egg for just that reason - it's clear, you can see nothing really inside.

If you candle again just before they're due you'll see a much bigger air sac and the rest of the egg completely dark as the chick has filled it. Sometimes you can see the beak chipping away inside 

Occasionally an egg will stop developing part way along. Then you can see too much 'unused up egg contents' and less chick, compared with the others.

[Raine]

Hi there

Any advice on candling quail eggs.  This is my first incubation and we 5 days in, so know it is too early yet, but many seem to say it is hard to see anything through the shells.

Thank you

Lauraine

[geebee]

Thanks jaykay, now I'm getting excited!  ;DI just didn't trust what I was seeing, never done it before.