Learn Candling Eggs + Intentional Living

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Candling Eggs 🥚

4. Personal Development: Setting Intentions for the New Year 🤩

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

A Super Food Secret You’ll Want This Winter

Still recovering from holiday feasts? Here’s something to help you prepare for what’s next—a super food created by the U.S. military during the Cold War.

This simple recipe kept soldiers ready for anything, and now you can use it to keep your family well-fed for just 50 cents a day. It doesn’t even need refrigeration!

A retired army cook is sharing this life-saving formula for the first time.

Start 2025 strong with The Lost Super Foods of the Cold War.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

🎄 What’s the ultimate homesteader’s way to celebrate Christmas? 🎄

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Making handmade gifts for everyone

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Decorating the house with natural, foraged items (pinecones, evergreen boughs)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Preparing a feast with only homegrown or locally sourced ingredients

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Sitting by the woodstove, sipping homemade cider or mulled wine

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Sharing the season’s bounty with neighbors and friends

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Candling Eggs 🥚

Ever wondered how to check if your eggs are on track to hatch without cracking them open? That’s where candling comes in! It’s an old-fashioned but super handy way to peek inside an egg using just a light.

What Exactly Is Candling?

Candling is simply shining a light through an egg to see what’s happening inside. Back in the day, folks used candles (hence the name), but now most people use flashlights or special egg candlers. The light makes it possible to see things like veins, the air sac, or even a little chick moving around.

Why Should You Candle Eggs?

Here are the big reasons to candle your eggs:

• Check for Fertility: Not every egg is fertilized. Candling helps you figure out which ones are.

• Track Development: See if the embryo is growing and if the air sac is the right size.

• Remove Problem Eggs: Eggs that aren’t developing can rot and harm the good ones. By spotting them early, you keep your incubator clean and safe.

• Better Hatch Rates: Knowing which eggs are viable means you’re more likely to get healthy chicks.

Candling also gives you a chance to check eggs before they even go into the incubator. If an egg has cracks, a thin shell, or just looks “off,” it’s better to leave it out.

What You’ll Need for Candling

Candling doesn’t require much equipment, but having the right tools makes a difference:

• Bright Light Source: A strong flashlight or an egg candler is ideal. LED lights work great because they’re bright and cool.

• Dark Room: The darker, the better—it helps you see inside the egg.

• Soft Surface: Use a towel or cushion to protect the eggs while you work.

• Notebook or Chart: Keep track of what you see so you can monitor progress.

• Gloves: Optional, but they help keep oils and bacteria from your hands off the eggs.

How to Candle Eggs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to give it a go? Here’s how to do it:

1. Set Up Your Space: Pick a dark room or wait until evening. Lay out your flashlight or candler, a towel, and your notebook.

2. Handle Eggs Gently: Carefully remove eggs from the incubator and place them on the towel. Try not to jostle them.

3. Shine the Light: Hold the flashlight or candler steady and place the larger end of the egg (where the air sac is) against the light.

4. Look for Signs: Turn the egg gently and look for veins, the air sac, or movement. Don’t shake the egg—it can harm the embryo.

5. Take Notes: Write down what you see, especially if an egg shows no signs of life.

6. Return Eggs Promptly: Put the eggs back in the incubator as quickly and carefully as possible.

What to Look for When Candling

Here’s what you might spot when you candle your eggs:

• Veins: Thin, branch-like lines mean the embryo is developing.

• Air Sac: A growing air pocket at the larger end of the egg is a good sign.

• Embryo Movement: Later in the incubation period, you might see the embryo wiggling.

• Blood Ring: A red ring around the yolk often means the embryo has stopped developing.

• Clear Egg: If the egg looks clear after several days, it’s likely not fertilized.

Every egg is different. Some develop slower than others, and darker eggs can be harder to see through. Practice makes perfect!

When Should You Candle Eggs?

Timing matters when it comes to candling. Here’s a general schedule:

• Day 7–10: This is the best time to check for early signs of development, like veins or a small embryo.

• Day 14–18: By now, the embryo should be much larger, and the air sac should be easy to spot. Any eggs without progress can be removed.

• Avoid Days 19–21: Once you’re close to hatching, it’s best to leave the eggs alone. Handling them too much could disrupt the process.

Candling Tips for Success

Here are some extra tips to make candling easier and more effective:

• Use a Bright Light: A strong flashlight or egg candler works best, especially for darker eggs.

• Keep It Quick: Limit the time eggs are out of the incubator to avoid temperature changes.

• Work in a Dark Room: It makes details like veins and air sacs much easier to see.

• Watch for Smells: If an egg smells bad, it’s likely rotten and should be removed right away.

• Record Observations: Keeping notes helps you track which eggs are developing and which ones aren’t.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Setting Intentions for the New Year 🤩

As we welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and set intentions for the year ahead. Unlike rigid resolutions that often feel like chores, intentions are about focusing on what really matters and aligning your actions with your values.

Why Set Intentions Instead of Resolutions?

Let’s face it: resolutions can feel like setting yourself up for failure. They’re often too specific, rigid, and outcome-focused. For example, “I will lose 20 pounds” might work for some, but it can feel overwhelming and discouraging if life gets in the way.

Intentions, on the other hand, are more flexible and forgiving. They focus on the process and purpose rather than the result.

• Example:

  • Resolution: “Exercise every day for an hour.”

  • Intention: “Take care of my body by moving more and staying active.”

Intentions allow you to stay true to your values without the guilt of “failing.” They’re a way to guide your life instead of trying to control every moment.

Start by Reflecting on the Past Year

Before jumping into what you want for the next year, take a moment to look back. Reflection helps you celebrate wins, learn from challenges, and figure out what you really want to focus on.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What am I most proud of from this past year?

2. What challenges did I face, and what did I learn from them?

3. What brought me joy, and what felt like a burden?

4. What would I like to improve or change in the coming year?

Write your answers down. They’ll help you see patterns—what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to bring into the new year.

How to Set Intentions That Matter

Intentions work best when they align with your values. Think about the areas of your life that are most important to you—personal growth, family, health, or your homestead—and ask yourself what you truly want in each area.

Examples of values and intentions:

• Family: “Spend more time with loved ones by having a family dinner every week.”

• Health: “Take better care of myself by walking outside daily.”

• Homesteading: “Focus on sustainability by reusing materials for three new projects this year.”

• Personal Growth: “Make time for creativity by painting once a month.”

The key is to keep your intentions tied to what matters to you—not what you think you should do because of external pressure.

Break Intentions Into Small, Doable Steps

Big intentions can feel overwhelming unless you break them down. Let’s say your intention is: “I want to improve my physical health.” What small steps can you take to make that happen?

Example Steps:

1. Start each day with 5 minutes of stretching.

2. Meal prep on Sundays to include balanced meals.

3. Commit to a 15-minute walk after dinner three times a week.

Once you’ve listed a few small steps, create a simple timeline. For instance, focus on stretching for the first month, then add in meal prepping. Small, steady changes are more sustainable than trying to tackle everything at once.

Visualize Your Year Ahead

Take a quiet moment to imagine yourself at the end of the year. You’ve lived in alignment with your intentions—how does it feel?

• Are you more energized?

• Are your relationships stronger?

• Does your homestead feel more sustainable and organized?

Visualization connects you emotionally to your goals, which makes you more likely to stick with them. Write down what you imagined—it’s like giving yourself a sneak peek of success.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the calendar get invited to every New Year’s party?

It had a lot of dates!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. Me scheming about the future of my dream homestead:

@gardenwithnani

The ones who get it, get it! #vegetablegarden #containergardening #gardeningtok #beginnervegetablegarden #gardenharvest #gardenhumor

2. Yep, on my way to the greenhouse right now as we speak! 🌱😂

@indohgoddess

It be like that 😭🤣 #gardening101 #za #relatable #humor #fyp #viral #foryou

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