Should Cupertino neighbors eat eggs laid by a stray hen?

"Some people say they are perfectly safe, but health officials say it's not a good idea. Wild hens don't have someone taking care of them, providing a clean, warm roost, nutritious food and health care. Because of that, the eggs may be contaminated with bacteria, primarily Salmonella. If you want a more reliable source of healthful eggs, you and your neighbors could band together, build a coop, buy some chicken feed and adopt the chicken."

"DEAR SIDSEL: Your persistent visitor is a hermit thrush. The thrush isn't particularly known for window knocking, like some other species of birds, but they will do it when motivated. The bird most likely sees his own reflection and thinks there is another bird sitting in another bush, and he doesn't like it. He flies toward the phantom bird, thus hitting the window. But that cheeky intruder just doesn't get the message."

Roaming hens lack regular roost cleaning, balanced feed and health care, which increases the risk that their eggs may be contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella. Neighbors can mitigate this risk by building a coop, providing proper chicken feed, adopting the stray hen, and sharing duties for cleaning, feeding, water checks and egg collection. Additional rescued hens can be added to the flock to increase productivity and welfare. A hermit thrush may repeatedly strike a window because it sees its reflection, mistakes it for a rival, and keeps attacking the perceived intruder.

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