PNS Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Miami, FL |
| Website | www.pnsfarms.com |
| Market Area | South Florida |
| Total Score | 2470 |
They write: “Our hens are housed in a wooden barn, comparable to the Ritz for people, where they eat high quality certified organic soy free feed (no antibiotics, no hormones, no animal by-products, no food from GMO crops). They lay their eggs, porch and sleep on ladders, as they love to sleep high off the ground. The floors are concrete covered with pine shavings to keep humidity out and maintain cleanliness (shavings changed weekly). They have continuous access to outdoors where they pasture, enjoy the bugs, sun, fresh air and shade under the guava trees. They love to exercise, climb on the trees and pick the fruits. While many of us enjoy sunbathing on the sand, they enjoy sunbathing on the soil. These are truly happy hens that produce safe, healthy and nutritious organic eggs. We go to extremes to safeguard their well-being – no shortcuts here or anywhere else.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2470 | 5-Egg Rating | Top Rated |
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 |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | under 500 birds |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
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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 |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 85 | Qualtiy Certification Services |
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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 |
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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 | 100 | 5.5 sq ft/hen |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, scratching, pasture access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | litter freshened weekly plus pasture access |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | Birds have ample access to the outdoors for natural light during all daylight hours |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 70 | 11 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 | 100 | more than one door per 75 birds |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | feed, water, 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 | 100 | year-round pasture access |
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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 non-rotated pasture |
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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 | composted and used 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 | 100 | no beak trimming |
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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 | 100 | average of 3 years or longer |
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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 | used for home consumption |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 100 | under 1% annually |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 80 | raise up from day old chicks |
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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 | 100 | 4Êweeks |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 75 | vegetables produced on farm along with pasture |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | all domestically grown |
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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 | 100 | no synthetic methionine, uses fishmeal insteadÊ |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | full disclosure |
