How soon can I candle my chicken eggs?

You can candle chicken eggs as early as 7 days after they've been incubated.

However, here's why you might wait a little longer:

* Early candling: While you can see the air cell growing at 7 days, it's sometimes hard to differentiate between a fertilized and unfertilized egg at this stage.

* Optimal time: The best time for candling is between days 10-14. At this point, the blood vessels in the developing chick are more visible, making it easier to determine if the egg is fertile and developing correctly.

Candling after day 14:

* Later candling: After day 14, the chick is more developed and the air cell is larger. This makes it easier to see if the chick is alive and healthy. However, you might also see the chick moving around, which can be stressful for it.

Remember:

* Candling frequency: You can candle eggs multiple times during incubation, but it's generally not necessary more than twice.

* Handling: Handle the eggs gently during candling to avoid damaging the developing chick.

Hope this helps! Happy candling!