Are They Alive? Candling Our Eggs from Day 8 to Lockdown

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:06]Today is day 18. This is where it gets serious. From this point on, we don't touch the eggs. 8 days ago, we candled and removed the non-developing eggs.

[00:00:19]This was our first time candling this batch. At this point, we were just hoping to see signs of life, veins, movement, or a dark spot forming inside the egg. The audio from this night wasn't great, but the moment was special because this was the first time we really got to see what might be growing.

[00:01:13]After day eight, all we could do is wait. Keep the incubator steady and hope they keep growing.

[00:01:23]This is the last time we're candling.

[00:01:25]We're just making sure non-stop developing.

[00:01:34]All right, let's put it back on. We'll do it in a minute, baby. All right, so let's check it. You see it? making things.

[00:01:45]>> I don't think I see any.

[00:01:46]>> Handling eggs looks very different than it did back on day eight.

[00:01:51]>> Earlier in the incubation, we were looking for veins and early development.

[00:01:56]But by day 18, the chick has grown so much that the egg will usually look almost completely dark when you shine a light through it. That darkness is actually a good sign. It means the chick is filling in most of the egg.

[00:02:12]The only area that usually stays visible is the air cell near the larger end of the egg. That air pocket is important because it's where the chick will take his first breath just before hatching.

[00:02:25]So, if the egg looks mostly dark with the visible air cell, that's usually a healthy sign that the chick is still developing and getting ready to hatch.

[00:02:35]All right, buddy. Go ahead and open it up. All right, we're going to start with baby girls eggs first. All right, it's a small one. And this one. All right, you go ahead and close it back up so you keep the heat in. Turn off. Go ahead and turn the light. All right, let's see what we got, guys.

[00:02:54]>> All right, what do y'all see?

[00:02:56]>> What do you see?

[00:03:00]>> Do you see anything? We're not supposed to be seeing the veins. Remember the first candle? Do you see anything? Well, it's hard to see because it's supposed to be full. I don't see anything. Let's check the other one. Main thing we don't see any any clear liquid or we don't see a line going through. It must be full because you can't really see through.

[00:03:22]It's dark and I think the air will be if it's penetrating to see the entire egg cuz it's full. All right, let's check the next one.

[00:03:32]>> I'm going to turn on the light.

[00:03:34]>> All right.

[00:03:37]All right, close it and let's hit the lights. All right, guys. So, not like eight. On day eight, we were looking for veins. This time, it should be full. So, what do you guys see? It's done. Pretty much nothing.

[00:03:56]>> Let's see about this one. Do we see anything? All right. So, it shouldn't be uh main thing. We don't see any kind of clear liquid. Then, it's not developing.

[00:04:04]So, we should be good. All right. Hit the light. All right. One minute. Let's grab this one and get this one. All right. You can close it back up. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Let's see what we got. What do we got? This.

[00:04:23]What do y'all think? Y'all think this is growing?

[00:04:26]>> Yes, sir.

[00:04:27]>> All right. Let's check the other one.

[00:04:29]Oh, >> look at that. Pretty. But it's clear. So that means it's not developing when it's clear like that. It shouldn't be that way on that 18. Pretty like a color. All right, baby girl. You go ahead and open that. All right, buddy. You start on that side and I start on this side. All right.

[00:04:50]After checking the eggs, we moved into what's called lock down. This is the stage where we stop turning the eggs and increase the humidity inside the incubator.

[00:05:02]Up until now, the eggs have been turning regularly to keep the embryo from sticking to the shell. But by day 18, the chicks have began positioning themselves inside the egg for hatching.

[00:05:15]At this point, they need stability. We also add water to raise the humidity to around 65 to 70%. The higher our humidity helps prevent the membrane inside the egg from drying out while the chick is trying to hatch. From this point forward, we avoid opening the incubator unless absolutely necessary.

[00:05:38]Sudden drops in humidity can make it harder for the chicks to break out of the shell.

[00:06:12]Now everything is up to the chicks. So after adding the water, the humidity should go up to about 65 to 75. What?

[00:06:23]70%.

[00:06:24]After that, we don't open this. Why do y'all think we don't open this?

[00:06:29]>> Because because Yeah.

[00:06:34]>> Needs to be warm. Good.

[00:06:36]>> That's a good answer. I think she covered it. But yeah, to hurt them. We don't want to hurt them. So, we want to make sure we leave this on. Make sure we added water like we did, right? And the humidity should get up to about 65 to 70%.

[00:06:54]>> Yes, sir.

[00:06:54]>> All right. Now, the temperature needs to go back because we kept opening.

[00:06:59]>> Yes, sir.

[00:07:08]>> So, what do y'all think is going to happen?

[00:07:12]>> They're going to hatch. They're going on.

[00:07:26]>> Yes, they'll stay in there for about 24 hours. Yeah. All together. So, yep, that's where they supposed to be. So, we'll leave this closed. In the next day or two, we should or we I hope that we hear some chirping next time we open it.

[00:07:44]Huh. So, now we wait.

[00:07:49]We don't know exactly how many will hatch, but we're excited, nervous, and thankful we get to share this part of the journey with y'all.

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