Lancaster Farms
| Rating |  |
| Company | Lancaster Farms |
| Outdoor Access | Standard USDA Protocol |
| Market Area | Mid-Atlantic |
| Location | Leola, PA |
| Market Area Detail | Mid-Atlantic Region |
| Website | www.lancasterfarmfresh.com |
| Total Score | 1890 |
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| Criteria | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2700) | 1890 | 3-Egg Rating | Very Good |
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 | 90 | farmer co-operative |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 80 | 300-2,500 |
|
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) | ||
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | MOSA |
|
Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 40 | markets conventional and 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 | 80 | 1.5 sq ft in summer; 2 sq ft in cooler months |
|
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, scratching areas |
|
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 0 | no answer |
|
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | ample natural light |
|
Farms that ensure 108ft2 per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 80 | 87 sq ft/bird |
|
Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 100 | Mobile housing |
|
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | pasture, water, shade |
|
Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions | 0 | no answer |
|
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 90 | rotated pasture moved weekly |
|
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 100 | composted and used on farm |
|
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 | 100 | no beak trimming |
|
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 40 | 8-12 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 as stewing hens |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 0 | no answer |
|
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 90 | Raises and buys chicks, some buying of pullets |
|
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 | 100 | as early as possible |
|
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | some corn and soy raised on farm |
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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 | Actively work to secure domestic grain |
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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 | 0 | no answer |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 50 |