Pasture Patterns

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersMount Horeb, WI
Websitehttps://www.prairieblufffarm.com/
Market AreaWI
Total Score1410
CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) 1410
5-egg
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points.
Ownership Structure
100Single farm sourcing
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
100Highly committed to organic label
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards.
Other Labels and Standards
0None
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions.
Flock Size(s)
100Small flock sizes, well below 500 birds during pasture season
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits.
Hen Housing and Exit Areas
100Mobile housing with rotated pasture during summer, hens have legitimate outdoor access (fixed barns during winter)
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors.
Indoor Spacing
1001.75-2 square feet per bird; hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors year-round
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
1004+ square feet per bird in mobile coops; hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round.
Quality of Outdoor Access
100Excellent outdoor-access quality with access to the outdoors even during winter weather, maintains 100% vegetation with rotation
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress.
Outdoor Access Timing
60Given outdoor access as soon as pullets come on-farm
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life.
Enrichments
100Many enrichments are provided indoors and outdoors along with legitimate outdoor access
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming.
Alterations
70Beak trimmed at hatchery; no forced molting allowed
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish.
Chicks and Pullets
40Brand purchases certified organic ready-to-lay pullets
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
90Death rate below 5%, spent hens sold live or as stew hens
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points.
Environmental Impacts
90Very long pasture rotation (3-4 years), manure used as on-farm fertility and composted, steps taken for environmental sustainability
Feed Sourcing75Obtains feed from organic supplier that distributes locally, attests to 100% domestic sourcing
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
85Excellent animal welfare benchmark
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
100Full transparency
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
Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers).
Organic Certifier (non-scoring)
MOSA
Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form.
Extra Credit
0None