How to Check to See if a Chicken Egg Is Incubating

Visual inspection is a vital process of monitoring egg embryo health when incubating a chicken egg. As the embryo inside an incubating chicken egg may die during the incubation process, the visual inspection of the egg for embryo development, known as "candling," is important to determine that the egg is properly incubating. Candling can be performed at day five of incubation and onward and requires only a light source, five sheets of typing paper and a dark work area.

Things You'll Need

  • Light source, such as a high-power flashlight, portable desk lamp or projector, with a 40-watt bulb or brighter
  • 5 sheets of white paper
  • Infertile chicken egg
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Instructions

    • 1

      Roll all five sheets of paper into the shape of a cone. Roll the sheets so that there is a quarter-sized opening at the pointed tip of the cone.

    • 2

      Turn off all lights except the light to be used for the candling process. Cover all windows and other light sources with blinds or sheets so that the candling area is dark. Remove any shades or removable coverings from the light source if necessary to fit the paper cone over the light source.

    • 3

      Place the large open end of the paper cone over the light source to be used for inspection. Remove the egg from its incubation device and gently hold the egg to the quarter-sized hole at the tip of the paper cone. Touch the egg to the interior edges of the quarter-sized hole so that the egg prevents light from escaping through the hole. Hold the egg still and note any pinkish or dark coloring in the egg. Place the incubating egg back in the incubation device once inspection is complete.

    • 4

      Gently hold the infertile chicken egg to the quarter-sized hole at the tip of the paper cone. Touch the egg to the interior edges of the quarter-sized hole so that the egg prevents light from escaping through the hole. Hold the egg still, and compare the coloring of the infertile egg's interior with that of the incubating egg.

    • 5

      Repeat the candling process daily over a period of several days, and note the results of each candling session. If the incubating egg's interior appears identical to that of the infertile egg, or if the size of any dark areas in the incubating egg's interior remains static over several days, the egg has failed to incubate or the embryo has died. Remove any failed eggs from the incubator and dispose of them immediately.