I have a triple scale hydrometer that gos as low as 0.990. I suggest you invest in one because of how useful it is. It has gravity, bridge scale and estimated alcv% .
From what I have read, you're supposed to stir it daily when in primary fermentation stage or use an aquarium pump with a sanitized air stone for an hour every other day to provide the yeast with enough oxygen for the work involved in converting sugars into alcohol. In turn this will speed up...
A little over a month, I treated it like beer.....when I seen no more activity on the air lock I transferred it to my secondary and 2 weeks later bottled it up. I got the recipe and instructions from the book "Traditional Mead"
My Mead was a little cloudy after a month in the secondary, so I racked it and after a week gave it a try. Looks good and tastes good at 15.5% albv took 15 lbs honey