8o The Essentials of Poultry Raising 



The egg is held before the candler with the large end up and 

 inclined at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Slightly jerk 

 the egg sidewise and the j'olk will be noted as a dark central 

 mass. If the e.gg is fresh, the air cell, about the size of a dime, 

 will be seen at the large end of the e.gg. 



186. Change in the Size of the Air Cell. As soon as an tgg 

 is laid, the air cell begins to enlarge, a process due to evaporation 

 through the shell. If an e.gg is kept for some time, the air cell 

 will be enlarged in proportion to the amount of evaporation that 

 has taken place. 



187. What to Look For. Your object in candling is to see 

 that all the eggs you place on the market are good for food, 

 for if you guarantee your eggs and have a uniform product, 

 with all eggs up to standard size (177), you will receive more 

 for your product than those selling a poorer product. Always 

 seek a market that will pay a premium for a good product. 

 Look for and reject those eggs that show a blood ring, a blind 

 check, a very dark superficial yolk, which indicates a heated 

 egg, a large air cell, any black objects in any part of the tgg, 

 or chick development. 



188. An Egg Chart: 



FRESH EGGS* 



BEFORE THE CANDLE OUT OF THE SHELL. 



Airspace: Not enlarged ; less than White: Firm and thick; opales- 



three-fourths inch in diameter. cent; reflects the light. 



White-. Firm and clear. Yolk: Spherical and firm; chick 



Yolk : Dimly seen through the spot small with no sign of hatch- 

 white as a shadowy object indis- ing. Color is uniform for the 

 tinct in outline. The chick spot entire yolk, but varies from light 

 is not visible. yellow to deep orange, and is 



Distinguishing characteristics: occasionally olive green. 



No shrinkage and general firm Distinguishing characteristics: 



conditions of white and yolk. General firm condition of white 



Edible. and yolk. White, opalescent. 



* The color of a white egg before the candle is yellow with a pinkish tinge, that 

 of a brown egg is pinker, and that of a dark brown egg is almost red. In each in- 

 stance the color deepens in the region of the yolk.— U. S. Dept. Agr. 



