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.

Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.

Single henhouses receive the most points.

Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.

Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.

Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.

More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest.

Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points.

Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points.

Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.

Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.

Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.

Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points.

Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.

Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.

Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.

Farms that never force molting receive the most points.

Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.

Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.

Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points.

Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.

Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.

Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points.

Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.

Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.

No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.

Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points.

Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.