Incubation - Raising Poultry - page 277

with water that's roughly 100°F (38°C) for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse them off with
a nozzle in a sink, being sure to loosen and remove any manure or other matter that's
accumulated on the surface. While you can wash the individual eggs on a daily basis
as they are laid, I have always found it better to wash them as close to incubation as
possible. You could wash the eggs daily and then rewash lightly prior to setting, if you
wish.
However you decide to schedule your egg-washing task, keep in mind that it's im-
portant to use the cleanest eggs possible for hatching. Washing makes it possible to
avoid bacterial growth in the incubator that can impede hatching and cause disease prob-
lems in day-olds. Once the eggs have been washed and rinsed, allow them to sit for a
while to attain room temperature prior to placing in the incubator.
Candling
Candling is the process of checking incubating eggs for viability with the use of a light
held up to the egg to see the contents inside. It's best to candle on a weekly basis during
the incubating process and remove all of the infertile and cracked eggs. If you remove
bad eggs frequently, you'll be rewarded with the greatest possible number of hatchlings.
Rotting eggs give off a toxic gas that suffocates those surrounding them. Eggs that ex-
plode from bacterial decomposition also cause problems for the remaining eggs. The
bacteria emitted by the explosion run wild, leaving a horrible mess for you to clean up.
Waterfowl eggs are particularly prone to decay during the incubation process. Goose
eggs can explode as early as two weeks into incubation if they're not fertile or have
cracked shells. Duck eggs are nearly as bad, but the explosions are not quite as dramatic.
Candling Devices
A variety of candling devices are available for purchase, or you can make your own.
Cardboard. A simple candling apparatus can be constructed out of a cardboard box
containing a light socket attachment and light bulb on the end of an electrical cord. A
small hole is cut out of one side, so that when you bring the large end of the egg up to it
you can see the growing — or dying — matter inside the shell. The heat given off by the
bulb inside the cardboard box makes this choice a potential fire hazard, however. Never
leave it unattended, and never candle more than a hundred or so eggs at a time.
Wood. A wooden candler is simply a more permanent, safer version of a temporary
cardboard one (see illustration below).
Metal. The same type of device can be made with a metal can, but care must be taken
with the sharp tools used for cutting the hole in one end that you put the egg up to. Met-
al can-type candlers also can be purchased and will work fine for the average backyard
poultry raiser.