candling
KAN-dling
/ˈkændlɪŋ/
The process of holding an egg against a bright light to inspect its interior details, such as fertility, embryo development, or shell defects.
A non-destructive testing method used both in commercial hatcheries and by hobbyists to monitor egg viability.
The story behind the word. Before modern electricity, farmers literally held eggs up to a single candle flame in a dark room to see the shadow of the embryo. Although we now use high-powered LEDs, the historical term 'candling' has remained unchanged.
Word relationships
- transillumination: Transillumination is the broader scientific term for shining light through a body cavity or object, while candling is the specific agricultural term for eggs.
Commonly confused with
- grading: Grading is the overall classification of eggs by size and quality, of which candling is merely one diagnostic step.
Word family
- candle (verb): To examine an egg against a light.
Collocations
- egg candling
- candling lamp
- perform candling
- automated candling
Example sentences
- "Regular candling during the second week of incubation helps identify and remove non-viable eggs before they spoil." Hobbyist poultry guide.
- "Automated candling systems in modern facilities can detect hairline cracks in eggshells at incredible speeds." Quality control procedures in food processing.
Memory hook
Picture a farmer holding a delicate egg up to a glowing candle in a dark barn. Candle light shines through the egg.
When not to use
Do not use to describe general cleaning, sorting, or weighing of eggs.
Fun facts
- Candling can reveal if an egg has a double yolk, a blood spot, or even if the chick inside has begun to breathe from the internal air cell.
Explore more words
incubation, incandescence, inspect, poultry, illumination, inspection
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