Hidden Camp
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Canajoharie, NY |
| Website | www.hiddencampfarm.wordpress.com |
| Market Area | New York and Upstate NY |
| Total Score | 2065 |
They write: “Hidden Camp Farm eggs can be found in retail stores throughout New York State’s Hudson Valley. They can also be purchased straight from the farm. Call ahead to ensure availability. At Hidden Camp Farm, hens are free to forage in the fields, to scratch in the dirt, and to nestle themselves in the shade on sunny days. While their diets are supplemented with minerals and grains, we take great care to serve them only Certified Organic grains that never contain soy.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2065 | 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 | 100 | family farm, produces all of own eggs |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 60 | 3,000-10,000 |
|
Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
|
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) | 0 | none |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 85 | PCO |
|
Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 100 | 100% organic |
|
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 | 90 | 1.75-2 sq ft/hen |
|
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, deep litter, outdoor access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | freshened weekly, removed twice a year |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 90 | all natural light, curtains down two sides |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 80 | 43 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 500-1,000 birds |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 60 | 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 | 90 | only during inclement weather |
|
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 60 | fixed house with no rotations |
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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 | applied 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 | pullets come with beaks trimmed |
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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 | 70 | 18-20 months |
|
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 to live markets |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 80 | 5% |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 40 | purchase ready-to-lay pullets |
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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 | 40 | 18 weeks of age |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | no feed produced on farm but pasture access |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 70 | Buy from Green Mtn Feed in Vermont, not sure if all domestic |
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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 | No | no 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 | 90 | some unclear answers |
