Are eggs safe to eat if chickens peck in septic mess?

[chickyma]

Hello,

I keep a small flock (40 hens) and they are in rotated fenced in areas. However, a few like to get out, and they love to go near the septic drain field. We are in the process of getting it repaired...there is one spot that has a smelly black puddle, with mushy ground around it. The chickens seem to go for the mushy ground, but we have not seen them in the puddle. My question is, are the eggs safe to eat from these septic-loving chickens? I am losing sleep over this. Also, a few weeks ago I found a chicken dead in the coop, no sign of attack at all. Wondering if she got sick from the septic.

Any advice would be helpful! Thank you!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

That sounds like an extremely unhealthy situation for your chickens. I'd get them out of it ASAP!

I don't know about your eggs, but I'd be worried about the chickens getting sick. I have read stories on this message board about people's chickens getting sick from compost pile liquid.

 

[silkiechicken]

Eggs are in a closed system, so unless there is toxic things in your septic tank, perhaps like mold, they will be fine. Over a properly working drain field which is only broken down fluids recycled by bacteria in the system is fine, but I do suppose it is getting repaired b/c it isn't working properly. I'd still eat the eggs though as they should be sterile inside.

 

[chickyma]

Ok...thank you both for your replies...I was thinking the egg could get contaminated since eggs can be contaminated with salmonella from the inside, if the ovaries are infected. I was concerned the chickens could pick up some sort of bacteria and infect the eggs from the inside. The chickens seem to be in good health, and it is only a few that get out of the fenced area. We had a septic company look at the problem, and they said that because we have clay soil, it is just not absorbing anymore, and they gave us a few options on repairing it, which we will do ASAP!

 

[JOSEYWALES]

I would eat the eggs but I wouldn't kiss the chickens.