Well I was wrong. .my hen must have been doing some foot action under her because she just got off of the nest and no chicks. No external pips either. I candled and both are still alive soooo...I wait! I on many occasions considered bringing them in and finishing them off in the hatcher in fear of them doing ok.
@zazouse what's your opinion on free range brooding? I always see you hatching and brooding but do you allow any natural brooding and how successful is it?
I'm not Zaz, obviously, or as experienced, but I do free range brood. This is my second year doing it. Last year was their first. They hatched 90% of their eggs last year but they were horrid mothers and the chicks all died. This year I let them brood and took eggs when they began hatching. 100% hatch rate and it's been 3 days, her babies are still alive (I left her 2 of 8). My peas hatch just fine, it's the caring for babies that they suck at.