Organic Poultry

Why raise your chickens organically?

There are many benefits to raising your flock organically.

• Raising organic chickens decreases the amount of synthetic pesticides and chemicals that you might be exposed to and that others may use when growing the feed that you buy (see sources for organic feed, below). This is good for the human health of everyone involved, and also for the chickens and for the environment.
• By buying organically grown feed you are supporting agricultural practices which are centered around maintaining healthy soils and healthy waters. Chemical pesticides/herbicides used to control pests/weeds have a tendency to not only contaminate agricultural products, but also leach into the soil and enter bodies of water.
• Organic agricultural practices which build soil carbon increase water retention in the soil, increase nutrient cycling, and directly combat climate change by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in the soil.

Choosing to raise your flock organically promotes a safe environment for your family and your chickens, and comes with commercial benefits as well. People are increasingly drawn to organic products for the above-mentioned reasons.

Updates to Organic Poultry Standards

Note: Federal Standards for livestock and poultry practices went into effect on January 2, 2025. Read the federal register of the new rule.

• Summary of the rule and compliance dates (USDA)
• Make use of the updated Organic Poultry: A Record Keeping Checklist to ensure you are following the latest practices.
• Read more about organic livestock standards here
• Video: Understanding the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (NOFA NY)
• Article: Updates to Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards Finalized (NOFA NY)
• Article: OFA Celebrates Finalization of OLPS (Organic Farmers Association)

What does it mean to be certified organic?

Organic certification involves a process that involves attention to detail and commitment and results in a certification from the USDA. It means that a farm has vowed to only engage in organic farming practices in order to control pests, weeds and raise livestock. Keeping up with a certification means a regular 3rd party inspection (which comes with a fee) and requires that the farmers keep detailed records of all inputs being used.

Read more about the process of Organic Certification on: 

• Organic Standards and FAQ 
• Certification Resources

Some reasons as to why smaller scale chicken farmers might seek organic certification is to help with egg sales and because their land will be exempt from aerial/perimeter insecticide spraying undertaken by public health authorities for disease control (ie. mosquito control).

Some additional resources to consider: 

• Do I Need to Be Certified Organic? | Agricultural Marketing Service
• Self Assessment – Do I Need to Be Certified? (NOFA NY)

Can you call your eggs “organic” without getting certified?

If you are an owner of a small flock of chickens and you want to raise your hens organically but don’t want to apply for a certification it is still possible to truthfully sell your eggs as “organically grown!”*

There are several conditions to take into account:

• If a chicken farming operation generates less than $5,000 worth of gross revenue from egg sales, then this farm can adopt the title of “organic exempt.” What this means is that while the farm is organic in every sense of the term, it lacks the legal certification.
• Organic exempt farms must vow to only raise their chickens on organic feed from their second day of life on, and their chickens must be fed exclusively organic treats and supplements.
• If chickens have natural bedding it must be certified organic.
• If a chicken receives medical treatment and is administered medicine, or if it comes into contact with pesticides/chemicals, it must be removed from the flock and is no longer be considered “organic.”
• Eggs collected must be washed and cleaned using certified organic cleaners only.

* Please note that inaccurate use of the term ‘Certified Organic’ or misuse of the USDA label may result in fines. Read more details here.

Organic Chicken Feed

Here are some sources for organic chicken feed. Listing does not imply endorsement. If you know of a product that we should add to our list, please email us.

If you have updates or would like to contribute to the maintenance of this resource, please email: web@nofamass.org