Organic eggs come from hens that eat certified organic feed. Organic hens live in free-range barns, where they can move around freely and access food and water. They also have access to the outdoors when weather permits.
What Do Organic Hens Eat?
The feed given to hens must meet certified organic standards. Farmers work with nutritionists to provide a balanced diet that supports the health and well-being of their hens.
Organic feed can include ingredients such as grains and other approved feed ingredients. Farmers follow specific requirements when selecting and providing feed to their hens.
How Are Organic Hens Housed?
Organic hens live in free-range housing. This means they can move freely throughout the barn and have access to perches, nesting areas, food, and water.
When weather and other conditions allow, the hens can also access an outdoor area. Outdoor access gives hens another opportunity to explore and interact with their surroundings.
What Makes Organic Egg Production Different?
Organic production follows specific standards for feed, housing, and animal care. Farmers must follow these requirements to produce certified organic products.
It is important to remember that shell colour does not determine whether an egg is organic. White and brown eggs can both come from hens raised under organic production standards.
The nutritional value of an egg can also remain similar across different production systems. Factors such as the hen’s diet can affect certain characteristics, such as yolk colour.
Want to learn more? Ontario egg farmers Sandra and Luke explain organic egg farming and how they care for their hens in the video below.