Farmers Hen House
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Kalona, IA |
| Website | www.farmershenhouse.com |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 2005 |
They write: “FARMERS HEN HOUSE is family owned and has been operated by the Miller family since 2000. We manage small, family farms – most within 30 miles of our processing facility. Almost all are owned by Amish and Mennonite farmers. Their businesses are family affairs and many harvest their eggs by hand.Farmers Hen House is proud of the way our hens are raised. Our organic free-range and pasture-raised organic hens are free range. In addition to having cage-less, open barns, our hens flow between the indoors and the outdoors. When outside, hens roam grassy pens with plenty of room to be chickens! Organic Free-Range hens are guaranteed 2 sq. ft./bird while outdoors, and, for our Pasture-Raised organic hens, they are guaranteed 108 sq. ft./bird when outdoors. Never confined: Our hens are never confined or placed in cages. Our barns have perches, privacy nests, dust bathing and scratching areas. Certified humane raised and handled farms. Animal welfare is of upmost concern and we certify our farms annually with the Humane Farm Animal Care program. Along with annual inspections, Farmers Hen House maintains a compliance officer to ensure our farmers are on track with the USDA organic certification program and the Certified Humane program. Handled by environmentally responsible farmers. Raising organic hens begins with a commitment to organic farming. Organic agriculture results in healthy, chemical-free soil. Many farms in our area are passed down from generation to generation and it is rewarding to support and maintain family farming practices and not support factory farms. Pasture-Raised organic hens have more land designated as outdoor access in order to provide additional square footage per bird. Good for the bird, good for the land, and great for you! 108 sq. ft./bird!Fed a 100 percent organic non-GMO diet. In fact, many of our farmers grow the grains right on their own farms. No genetic engineering! Our chicks are born and raised organic. Our farmers do not plant bioengineered seeds!”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2005 | 4-Egg Rating | Excellent |
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own eggs receive the most points. Corporations that do not produce any eggs receive the fewest points.
Ownership Structure | 70 | family owned business that contracts with Amish family farms for egg supply |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 60 | flocks average 7,000 in size |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
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Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Certifications (bonus points) | 60 | Certified Humane |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 85 | GOA, IOCP, OEFFA |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 80 | company markets organic and cage-free; farms do either one or the other but not both |
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More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest.
Indoor Space per Bird | 80 | 1.5 sq ft/henÊ |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 80 | perches, dust baths, scratching areas but not year round outdoor access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 80 | litter freshened as needed, removed after each flock |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 90 | curtain sides allow abundant natural light |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 60 | minimum of 2 up to 8 sq ft/hen |
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Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 70 | one door for every 1,000 birds |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 80 | water, shade |
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Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions | 70 | confined seasonally |
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Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 60 | fixed houses with non-rotated pasture |
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Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 100 | manure recycled on farm |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | no forced molting |
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Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 70 | beak trimming within first 10 days |
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Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 40 | hens live 60-70 weeks |
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Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points.
Use of Spent Hens | 100 | sold live for food, eggs |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 100 | under 3% annually |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 70 | some raise own chicks, other purchase ready-to-lay pullets from local farmers |
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Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points.
Pullet Access to Outdoors | 20 | 20 weeks old |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | some grain is produced on farms along with pasture |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 60 | actively work to secure domestically grown feed |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | Yes | soy in feed ration |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 70 | missing addresses of producers |
