Help! Need to know how old my duck egg is!

[Crazylarry]

Okay so I found two abandoned duck nests (flooded with water during heavy rain) that i had come across about a month before. Out of the 22 eggs I initially took, only one has shown real signs of life. He’s the only one in my incubator now. I need to know how he is so I can put him on lockdown at the right time and prepare accordingly. He seems like about 18 days to me, but I'm new to this. He was definitely laid after I initially saw the nests. Here’s a photo. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[MGG]

Okay so I found two abandoned duck nests (flooded with water during heavy rain) that i had come across about a month before. Out of the 22 eggs I initially took, only one has shown real signs of life. He’s the only one in my incubator now. I need to know how he is so I can put him on lockdown at the right time and prepare accordingly. He seems like about 18 days to me, but I'm new to this. He was definitely laid after I initially saw the nests. Here’s a photo. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!View attachment 2084038

Do you know what breed it is?

 

[Mylied]

Well you can just candle it until it internally pips and then up the humidity. Looks like it has a couple weeks left still so keep turning for ~ week.

 

[MGG]

Here's a good chart. It looks like day 20 give or take a day. If it's a mallard type that is. If it is a wild duck egg, however, you will have to take it to a Wildlife rehab center, it is illegal to be in possession of wild duck eggs. Good job rescuing them though! What is your incubator set up? Model? Do you have an accurate (calibrated) thermometer/hydrometer inside with the egg? What has temp and humidity been throughout incubation?

 

[Crazylarry]

I found him in a regular community lake area with only malllards, pekins, and muscovys, so there's only three possibilities other than hybrids. I have a homemade incubator, aka an awful one, so I don't know the exact temperature or humidity. I'm trying to keep up the humidity by misting regularly and keeping a dish with a sponge. He's been in there for about a week. He moves aaaaaaaaall the time, I can make out his beak and feet under the shell. I know I need to find a better way to monitor temp and humidity, so I'm trying to get a hygrometer and thermometer but I don't have one other than an oral thermometer for kids

 

[MGG]

I found him in a regular community lake area with only malllards, pekins, and muscovys, so there's only three possibilities other than hybrids. I have a homemade incubator, aka an awful one, so I don't know the exact temperature or humidity. I'm trying to keep up the humidity by misting regularly and keeping a dish with a sponge. He's been in there for about a week. He moves aaaaaaaaall the time, I can make out his beak and feet under the shell. I know I need to find a better way to monitor temp and humidity, so I'm trying to get a hygrometer and thermometer but I don't have one other than an oral thermometer for kids

You can put the oral one in next to the egg. There are thermometers at Walmart and on amazon prime.

 

[Crazylarry]

I've bought a hygrometer/thermometer, but I can't seem to get the humidity right. Is it better to have it too high or too low, if I can't get it perfect?

 

[Mylied]

I've bought a hygrometer/thermometer, but I can't seem to get the humidity right. Is it better to have it too high or too low, if I can't get it perfect?

I personally think it's better to be on the low side.