Witnessing the miracle of life inside an egg is one of the most rewarding aspects of hatching. An egg candler is an essential tool for any poultry enthusiast, allowing you to monitor embryo development, identify fertile eggs, and remove non-viable ones to maintain a healthy incubator environment. This simple device shines a bright light through the shell, giving you a fascinating window into the early stages of a chick’s growth.
Choosing the right candler can make all the difference in your hatching success. From basic models for beginners to advanced viewers for serious breeders, the market offers a variety of options. This roundup will guide you through some of the best egg candlers available, highlighting their unique features to help you find the perfect match for your hatching needs.
Our Top Picks for Egg Candlers
- Magicfly Bright Cool LED Light Egg Candler Tester
- Titan Incubators High Intensity LED Chicken Egg Candler
- HBlife Egg Candler with Flexible Attachments
- Brinsea OvaView Standard Egg Candler
- Brinsea Ovascope Egg Viewer
- Brinsea Large Egg Carriers for Ovation 28 Incubator
- GOOD MOTHER Bright Cool LED Light Egg Candler Tester
- Magicfly Egg Candler with 3 LED Brightness Levels
- Kebonnixs Egg Candler with 3 Light Modes and Power Adapter
Magicfly Bright Cool LED Light Egg Candler Tester
The Magicfly Bright Cool LED Egg Candler is a straightforward and reliable tool powered directly by a wall outlet. Its high-lumen LED provides a powerful beam that easily penetrates eggshells, offering a clear view of the interior. The cool light technology is a key benefit, as it ensures no heat is transferred to the delicate embryo during the inspection process.
This model is built for durability and ease of use. It features a simple on/off button and a long electric cable with an American plug, giving you plenty of reach. Since it is powered by a supply cord and is not rechargeable, it is an excellent choice for use in a stationary setup near an outlet, eliminating concerns about battery life.
Titan Incubators High Intensity LED Chicken Egg Candler
For those who need maximum portability, the Titan Incubators High Intensity LED Candler is a top contender. Being battery-powered, it offers the freedom to candle eggs anywhere, from the incubator to the brooder, without being tethered to a power source. Its high-output LED is both powerful and efficient, providing a bright, cold light for safe viewing.
This candler is remarkably versatile and is suitable for a wide range of egg types. It has been tested on everything from small Budgie eggs to large Ostrich and Rhea eggs, making it a fantastic option for breeders working with various poultry or exotic birds. The ability to handle light, dark, thin, and thick shells adds to its utility for any hatching project.
HBlife Egg Candler with Flexible Attachments
The HBlife Egg Candler is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it a great choice for students, new home hatchers, and experienced breeders alike. It includes a helpful instructional guide with phase charts, allowing you to compare what you see inside the egg with developmental stages. This educational aspect is invaluable for learning the candling process.
This model stands out with its flexible rubber attachments. These soft ends conform to different egg sizes and shapes, from small quail eggs to duck and chicken eggs, providing a secure and safe fit that helps prevent cracking. The powerful light source makes it easy to see veins and movement clearly, even spotting a chick’s beak as it prepares to hatch.
Brinsea OvaView Standard Egg Candler
Brinsea is a trusted name in incubation, and the OvaView Standard Egg Candler lives up to that reputation. This portable, battery-operated candler uses a high-efficiency LED to provide a bright, cool light that is perfectly safe for embryos. It comes with four AA batteries included, and it is also compatible with rechargeable batteries for long-term cost-effectiveness.
This candler is specifically designed to monitor the development of embryos in eggs with plain or pale shells, such as those from chickens, ducks, and geese. Its straightforward design and reliable performance make it a go-to tool for many poultry keepers. The zero heat damage guarantee gives you peace of mind every time you check on your developing chicks.
Brinsea Ovascope Egg Viewer
For the most detailed and clear viewing experience, the Brinsea Ovascope is a premium choice. This egg viewer is designed to block out all ambient light, creating a dark environment that dramatically enhances visibility inside the egg. A slight magnification further helps in observing fine details of the embryo’s development.
Unlike simple candlers, the Ovascope allows you to smoothly rotate the egg to observe the embryo from all angles without removing it from the viewer. This feature is particularly useful for a thorough assessment of development and movement. It is an excellent tool for serious breeders, educators, or anyone who wants the clearest possible view during the candling process.
Brinsea Large Egg Carriers for Ovation 28 Incubator
While not a candler itself, the Brinsea Large Egg Carriers are a crucial accessory for Ovation 28 incubator owners who wish to hatch larger eggs. This set of three carriers is specifically engineered to accommodate goose-sized eggs, expanding the versatility of your incubator. They are an official optional accessory, ensuring a perfect fit and reliable performance.
The carriers are also designed to increase the capacity for smaller eggs. By using the provided dividers, you can fit a greater number of quail, pheasant, or bantam eggs in two organized rows. This flexibility allows you to customize your incubator setup based on your current hatching project, making it an incredibly useful addition to your hatching toolkit.
GOOD MOTHER Bright Cool LED Light Egg Candler Tester
The GOOD MOTHER Egg Candler provides flexibility with two power options to suit your specific situation. It can be operated using the included long electric cable with an American plug for continuous use, or you can opt for portability by using the included battery box with three AA batteries. This dual-power feature offers the best of both worlds.
Safety and simplicity are central to its design. It features an easy on/off button and a durable construction. The ultra-safe LED illumination produces no heat, protecting the developing embryo during inspection. This makes it a reliable and versatile choice for any hatcher who values having power options.
Magicfly Egg Candler with 3 LED Brightness Levels
This advanced Magicfly candler offers superior control with three adjustable LED brightness levels. This feature allows you to customize the light intensity based on the egg type you are inspecting. A lower setting may be perfect for delicate or very small eggs, while the highest setting can penetrate darker or thicker shells for a clear view.
Having multiple brightness options helps prevent the light from being too harsh on very clear eggs, which can sometimes wash out details. This level of control is beneficial for those who work with a wide variety of eggs and want to ensure they are getting the optimal view for each one without causing any stress to the embryo.
Kebonnixs Egg Candler with 3 Light Modes and Power Adapter
The Kebonnixs Egg Candler is another excellent option that provides three distinct light modes. This versatility makes it suitable for candling different kinds of eggs effectively. The inclusion of a power adapter means you can use it plugged in for extended sessions without worrying about draining batteries.
This combination of adjustable light modes and a reliable power source makes it a very practical tool for the serious hatcher. You can tailor your candling approach for each egg, ensuring you get the best possible visibility for assessing development stages from start to finish.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Right Egg Candler
When I first started hatching eggs, I thought any bright light would work for candling. I quickly learned that a dedicated egg candler makes a world of difference. It is not just about seeing inside the egg; it is about seeing clearly and without stressing the embryo. If you are looking at the 9 best egg candlers for hatching, here is what I think you should consider to find your perfect match.
First, think about the light source. LED lights are the standard now, and for good reason. They run cool, which is crucial because you do not want to overheat the developing chick. They are also energy-efficient and incredibly bright. The color temperature matters, too. A cooler, white light often provides better contrast for spotting details like veins and the air cell compared to a warmer, yellow light.
Next, consider the power. Are you going cordless or sticking with a plug-in model? A rechargeable or battery-operated candler gives you the freedom to candle eggs anywhere, like directly in the incubator, which minimizes temperature swings. This is a huge plus in my book. Plug-in models never run out of juice, but you are tethered to an outlet. Some models even offer both options, which is a great flexible feature.
The design of the candler and its aperture (the hole you place the egg on) is another big factor. You need a candler that feels comfortable in your hand and is easy to maneuver. The aperture should be sized to block ambient light effectively. If it is too large for your eggs, light will leak out and make it harder to see. Many candlers come with different-sized rubber gaskets or adjustable apertures to create a tight seal against various egg sizes, from tiny quail eggs to large goose or duck eggs. This versatility is a lifesaver if you hatch different types of poultry.
Finally, look at the overall brightness and whether it is adjustable. A very powerful light is necessary for candling darker or thicker-shelled eggs later in the incubation period. However, sometimes a lower setting is better for early candling when the embryo is very delicate. An adjustable candler gives you the best of both worlds. By focusing on these aspects—light type, power source, design, and brightness control—you will be well-equipped to choose one of the best egg candlers for hatching that fits your specific setup and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is egg candling?
Egg candling is the simple process of using a bright, focused light to see inside an egg. We hold the light against the eggshell in a dark room, which illuminates the contents. This lets us check if an egg is fertile and track the development of the embryo throughout the incubation period. The name comes from the old days when people used actual candles, but thankfully, modern tools are much safer and more effective.
When is the best time to candle eggs?
Timing is important to avoid disturbing the embryo too much. I like to do a first candling around day 7 to 10 of incubation. This is when you should be able to see a network of spider-like veins, which confirms the egg is fertile and developing. A second check around day 18, just before lockdown, is good to remove any eggs that have stopped developing. Candling too often can cause the egg to lose heat and humidity, so I try to keep it to a minimum.
What should I look for when I candle an egg?
On your first candling, you are looking for clear signs of life. A fertile, developing egg will show a web of fine blood vessels and sometimes a dark spot that is the embryo itself. A clear, empty egg is likely infertile. An egg with a blood ring—a dark, often circular line—means the embryo started to develop but died early. When you are looking at the 9 best egg candlers for hatching, you want one that provides a clear, sharp light to make these details easy to spot.
Can candling harm the eggs?
If you are careful, the risk is very low. The two main concerns are temperature drop and physical handling. Modern LED candlers produce very little heat, so you do not have to worry about cooking the embryo. However, taking the egg out of the incubator for too long can chill it. I always work quickly, have everything ready before I start, and make sure my hands are clean and warm. Limiting your candling sessions also helps keep the embryos safe.
Can I use a regular flashlight instead of a candler?
You can try, but I have found it is not nearly as good. A standard flashlight spreads light everywhere, making it hard to see the delicate details inside the egg. A proper candler focuses the light into a bright beam and has a contoured aperture to block out ambient light. This creates the contrast needed to see veins and other structures clearly. Investing in a real candler will make the process much less frustrating and more accurate.
What is the difference between candling chicken eggs and darker duck eggs?
Darker or thicker-shelled eggs, like some duck eggs, can be much more challenging to candle. The pigment or shell density blocks a lot of the light. For these, you need a candler with a more powerful, high-lumen output. Some candlers are specifically marketed as being strong enough for dark eggs. Even with a powerful light, you might see less detail than with a white chicken egg, so you have to adjust your expectations and look for the major signs of development, like a large dark air cell and overall opacity as the chick fills the space.