Alden Hills

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersWalworth, WI
Websitehttps://aldenhillsorganicfarms.com/
Market AreaIL, WI
Total Score1400

This brand’s products can be found at their farm store, and in Chicago and Milwaukee stores.

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) 1400
5-egg
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points.
Ownership Structure
100Single-farm source, daily and hands-on interaction with the laying hens and farm business
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in systems that benefit us all. Eggs sourced from a single operation receive the most points. Eggs of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points.
Commitment to Organic Label
100100% organic brand with 100% organic sourcing
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards.
Other Labels and Standards
0None
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions.
Flock Size(s)
95Flock sizes of 600 birds each
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits.
Hen Housing and Exit Areas
100Mobile coops with easy access to outdoors and ensures that all hens utilize outdoor space
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors.
Indoor Spacing
100Mobile coops give space indoors
High scoring brands provide enough space to allow each hen to fully utilize their outdoor area, and to perform instinctive behaviors without harming the environment.
Outdoor Spacing
100Mobile coops allow good utilization of outdoor space without crowding
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round.
Quality of Outdoor Access
100Chickens get moved to fresh pasture daily with 100% vegetation; beef cattle rotated through pastures with chickens
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress.
Outdoor Access Timing
40Pullets introduced outdoors around 18 weeks
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life.
Enrichments
100Water, feed, and shade are provided outdoors; legitimate outdoor time is provided year round (weather-allowing)
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming.
Alterations
70Beaks are tipped but organic pullet supplier does the bare minimum; no forced molting allowed
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish.
Chicks and Pullets
60Purchases certified organic 18-week-old pullets
Brands that have low rates of deaths and utilize their spent hens for human consumption or similar score the highest.
Deaths, Culls, and Spent Hens
80Spent hens used for organic bone broth; higher death loss rate
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points.
Environmental Impacts
90Maintains 100% vegetative cover, rotates daily, avoids bare soil; no soil or water testing
Feed Sourcing90 Obtain feed from organic supplier that distributes locally
Brands that score well here go above and beyond to ensure the highest animal welfare, taking into consideration their hens’ safety and cleanliness, natural behavior, and stress levels.
Animal Welfare
75Good animal welfare benchmark
Cornucopia believes you have a right to transparency. Top brands share information with Cornucopia via a survey and cooperate with our own independent investigations.
Transparency
100Full and open transparency
Brands do not receive points, but this information is offered for people with soy and/or gluten allergies.
Soy free and/or gluten free?
Not soy free, but gluten free
Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers).
Organic Certifier (non-scoring)
MOSA
Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form.
Extra Credit
0None