Is this egg fertile?

[phoenixxflame]

This is a very good description of embryonic development. The life cycle of an embryo | BackYard Chickens

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For lack of a better term (my ignorance), the yolk is similar to a placenta. It feeds the embryo while in the egg and for up to 3 days after hatch. The embryo is not inside the yolk. They are attached to one another. If you cut the yolk of a newly laid egg it will look like this:
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p.s. I believe most of this information is interchangeable for ducks and chickens besides the length of incubation and other things I am ignorant of.

Thanks The main reason I'm asking this is that I'm trying to hatch some Muscovy eggs, but I don't know if they are fertile. I have one drake and four hens in the same pen, two of which are laying. Currently, 13 eggs are being incubated (five in an incubator, the rest by a broody hen). What do you think are the chances of the eggs being fertile? I can't tell if they are mating or not because I can't see them from my house.

 

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Thanks The main reason I'm asking this is that I'm trying to hatch some Muscovy eggs, but I don't know if they are fertile. I have one drake and four hens in the same pen, two of which are laying. Currently, 13 eggs are being incubated (five in an incubator, the rest by a broody hen). What do you think are the chances of the eggs being fertile? I can't tell if they are mating or not because I can't see them from my house.

Well, it depends on the maturity of the birds. They may not be mating yet even though eggs are laid. I saw someone asking on an incubation thread and I think she was told best fertility is at and after 1 year of age. She had been cracking eggs and all were infertile so far.
@campingshaws
Muscovy are different than other ducks. You can candle the eggs in your incubator. Starting about 6 days in you might see signs of development.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm​

There is also a Muscovy thread where you might get more specific advice than I can give. Muscovy keepers share your pics!
Muscovy duck Q&A
Can a Duck tell if her eggs are fertile?

Some say the truest test is doing just what you are doing - incubate! Good luck!

 

[campingshaws]

The first 20-25 eggs I cracked were not fertile, even though I had seen the drakes mounting the hens. I am starting to get fertile eggs but I'm still going to wait until I have a dedicated, stuck-tight broody. It's also a good idea to make sure the eggs are full sized before incubating. If you're not sure, google the average weight of a muscovy egg and then compare that to yours. Best of luck!

 

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The first 20-25 eggs I cracked were not fertile, even though I had seen the drakes mounting the hens. I am starting to get fertile eggs but I'm still going to wait until I have a dedicated, stuck-tight broody. It's also a good idea to make sure the eggs are full sized before incubating. If you're not sure, google the average weight of a muscovy egg and then compare that to yours. Best of luck!

Thanks for replying! This seems like very helpful information!