What to look for when buying free range eggs

Posted by Simon Cripps Clark on Thursday, December 8, 2016 Under: truth in labelling

To help with your purchasing decision, please see the table below which lists various organisations that certify free range egg producers and the standards that they set out (the information within the table has been verified by each of the certification bodies included).

 Australian Egg Corporation Assured
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ACO 
criteria for birds to be called free rangebirds are housed in sheds and have access to an outdoor range during daylight hours, once fully feathered (around 5-6 weeks)all birds must have free access to paddocks during the day once fully feathered (around 5-6 weeks old)birds are kept under natural conditions and have access to an open range or suitably fenced managed area
ease of access to outdoors (during daylight hours)through minimum openings of 35cm(h) x 40cm(w). Minimum of 5 openings per 1,000 birdsbirds must be allowed free movement and access to paddocks during each day, for a minimum of 8 hoursfor all birds
stocking density per shed (no. of birds per square metre)11-14maximum of 5, flock numbers shall not exceed 2,500 birds per shedmaximum of 5, the number of birds per shed should not exceed 1,500 without consulting the certifier
stocking density per outdoor paddock (no. of birds per hectare)There is currently no limitmaximum 1,500maximum 1,000
allows beak trimmingyesnono
pasture cover - essential to maintain birds health and minimise environmental impactno specifications requiredpasture cover should not fall below 40% and consideration must be given to the soil's health, production capacity, structure and nutrient balanceall birds must have access to green pasture

 
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FREPA
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Free Range Farmers Association Inc.
*criteria for birds to be called free rangebirds must have access to the range for a minimum of 8 hours per day once they are reasonably featheredwhen fully feathered (around 5-6 weeks old) birds must have easy access to an outdoor range during daylight hoursbirds are kept under natural conditions, either in an open range or suitably fenced managed areas
ease of access to outdoors (during daylight hours)birds must have easy access to individual openings (popholes), communal popholes or full opening doorsbirds must have easy access to an outdoor area during daylight hoursun-restricted
stocking density per shed (no. of birds per square metre)maximum of 9between 6-10 birds per square metre depending on the total no. of birds,no more than 4,000 birds per shedmaximum of 7, no more than 1,000 birds per shed
stocking density per outdoor paddock (no. of birds per hectare)maximum 1,500 or 2,500 if the outdoor range is rotatedmaximum 750maximum 750
allows beak trimmingyes, upon veterinary advice. Only in the first 10 days of life if other measures fail to control cannibalismyesno
pasture cover - essential to maintain birds health and minimise environmental impactrange must be well maintained with enough edible vegetation and shade/shelteraccess to pasture with mixed vegetationadequate natural ground cover
http://www.sustainabletable.org.au/Hungryforinfo/Free-range-egg-and-chicken-guide/tabid/113/Default.aspx
* The RSPCA does not require that farms provide hens with access to an outdoor range area to receive the RSPCA paw of approval. Indoor egg farms are guided by a different set of RSPCA standards and can still receive the paw of approval.

In : truth in labelling 



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about me


Simon Cripps Clark My passion is nature. I enjoy walking, climbing, observing wildlife and just taking in the beauty of the world.