Adopting a chicken that showed up at our neighbors

[Sabrina24]

Two weeks ago our neighbors called and said one of our chickens was in their yard. We all have about 2 acres and none of our chickens have wandered that far, at least not in that direction so we thought it was weird. When my husband got there it was not one of our chickens but he brought her home and we put her in the large dog kennel we use when we pick up new chickens. Other than missing a bunch of feathers and looking kind of ratty she seemed healthy (normal poo, ate and drank well and energetic) and all the hens and the rooster all but ignored her so after a few days we added her to the coop. She sleeps in the coop, though usually on the poop board not on the roost and she tends to hang by herself instead of staying with the group. Though it's an improvement over last week when she wouldn't leave the coop. She is super friendly and lets us pick her up way easier than the other girls do so we're assuming she was someone's chicken. She has been laying gorgeous bright blue eggs too! I guess other than an interesting story (at least to us), I am wondering when you would think it is safe to eat her eggs? The first few we boiled and fed to our pigs but we'd like to start eating them at some point, but no idea when would be a safe time not knowing anything about her.

 

[chiques chicks]

I'm kind of a risk taker, but I'd eat them now. Two weeks should be long enough for most stuff to be out of her system, if there was anything there (assuming the pigs didn't die from the eggs, of course).

I have never medicated any of my birds, so I haven't paid any attention to withdrawal periods for anything people may give them!

 

[drumstick diva]

I would assume it's entirely safe to eat her eggs. She may avoid your birds because she may have been a house pet. I'm sure she is happy to have a home with you.

Welcome to Backyard chickens.

 

[aart]

I'm surprised you were able to catch her and that your flock accepted her so easily!

I'd be more worried about any diseases or pests she might be carrying infecting your flock than I would be about eating her eggs.