I have a broody hen who has sat for three weeks on 7 eggs and they began hatching yesterday. Four have already hatched, one has pipped, and two are late and have shown no signs of hatching but are occupied. This morning the mother was showing signs of getting up and leaving the eggs, so I have been routinely moving the chicks to a brooder as they hatch. There are three eggs left, one in the process of zipping, and the broody is up and scratching around the cage. I put one of the chicks from the brooder back with her, and she is sitting now, but it is only a matter of time until she gets up again, possibly for good. So my question is, what should I do? I don't have an incubator and I am going to be gone for the next three days so I won't be able to find an alternate heat source. I have thought of trying to open the two dormant eggs if they don't hatch by tomorrow, but I don't know if this is a good idea.
