Hillandale Farms

Rating
Farm/Brand Headquarters	Gettysburg, PA
Website	https://www.hillandalefarms.com/
Market Area	Unknown
Total Score	535

This is an industrialized organic brand that focuses on profit margin rather than dedication to organic ideals and animal welfare (the birds are given outdoor access to a strip next to the barn rather than porches, but not all birds can access the outdoor space at once). These brands produce mostly conventional eggs, but their stake in the organic egg marketplace can be huge because of the volume of organic eggs they produce.

This particular brand should be commended for being open about their practices and not using porches.

Criteria	Points	Comment
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) Scorecard Criteria	535	2-egg
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points. Ownership Structure	50	Family business with industrialized practices
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	25	Brand sells both organic and non-organic, and produce or handle both organic and non-organic eggs on the same property
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards. Other Labels and Standards	30	Humane Farm Animal Care/Certified Humane (HFAC) (free range))
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions. Flock Size(s)	0	Houses average 30,000 birds (some houses at 20k and some at 40k)
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits. Hen Housing and Exit Areas	30	Single tier housing with poor pop hole exit areas on two sides of the house (likely only a small % of birds can be outdoors at once)
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors. Indoor Spacing	20	1 square foot per bird
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	20	Confined due to avian flu. Normal outdoor spacing is very poor, at 0.12 square foot minimum per bird, with 2 square feet provided due to
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round. Quality of Outdoor Access	10	Outdoor area is vegetated (no porches) but indications are that not all birds can use outdoor area at once; outdoor space is not rotated
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress. Outdoor Access Timing	10	25 weeks
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life. Enrichments	20	Limited enrichments indoors and shade structures outdoors
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming. Alterations	70	Beak trimming is done at the hatchery prior to 10 days old
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish. Chicks and Pullets	50	Brand raises chicks but without early outdoor access and in crowded conditions
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	75	Low death rate under 2%; birds taken out of production at around 18-19 months
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Impacts	25	Makes some sustainability efforts with renewable energy; manure is sold
Feed Sourcing	25	Owns own feedmill, majority of feed is produced domestically but some feed is purchased form overseas
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	25	Brand does the bare minimum to provide for their hens' welfare
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	50	Survey submitted and some information confirmed in investigation
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 or gluten free