Sustainable Agriculture

A program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org

Tipsheet: Organic Poultry 

Production for Meat and Eggs

Outdoor access is required by organic regulations for all livestock. Access to pasture, 

although not specifically required for organic poultry, allows birds to actively forage for 

plants, bugs, and seeds, and generally results in better health. Photo: Pamela Wolfe, NCAT

Introduction

This tipsheet discusses certified organic 

poultry production for eggs and meat in 

compliance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations. The costs of meeting organic 

production regulations are related to 

the cost of organic feed (which varies 

widely depending on access and proximity to production of organic grains) 

and housing and management (which 

vary with weather and system design). 

Some markets and consumers value 

organically raised livestock and livestock products, both in terms of food 

value and benefits to animal welfare 

and environmental stewardship. In 

these markets, organic products command price premiums, which may offset higher production costs sufficiently 

for organic poultry production to be a 

viable business. 

NOP Organic Regulations Related to Poultry Production

Organic regulations specify, in 7CFR §205.2 Terms defined and in §205.236 Origin of Livestock, that poultry or edible poultry products must be from birds that have been under continuous organic management 

beginning no later than the second day of life. Provisions for livestock feed, including allowed ingredients, 

are addressed in §205.237. The livestock health care practice standard, §205.238, emphasizes preventative 

health and humane treatment. Organic livestock living conditions are described in §205.239. 

Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production and handling are specifically listed 

in §205.603. Conversely, non-synthetic materials that are prohibited for use are listed in §205.604. Organic 

handling regulations are found in §205.270, and a list of nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed 

as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” appear in §205.605. Facility pest management is addressed in §205.271. Prevention of commingling and contamination are described in §205.272. 

Regulations on labeling are found in §205.200-311, including §205.306 Labeling of livestock feed. 

Regulations that apply to all organic operations include §205.103 Recordkeeping, §205.201 Organic system 

plan, and §205.202 Land requirements. Parts of §205.203, Soil fertility and crop nutrient management, are 

relevant to management of organic poultry production operations. 
Page 2 Tipsheet: Organic Poultry Production for Meat and Eggs

Selection of Animal Type and Breeds; Source 

of Livestock

According to USDA organic regulations, an organic livestock producer 

must select species and types of livestock that are suitable to the site, 

well-adapted to the climate, and resistant to diseases and parasites that 

are common in the area. Poultry breeds vary with respect to the range 

of temperature in which they thrive and maintain good productivity. 

Some do better in colder climates; others tolerate heat better. Some 

are better foragers; others grow faster. Producers should seek a balance 

of desirable characteristics. Hatchery breed descriptions and producer 

experience can guide breed selection. For organic production, one-day 

old chicks and poults may be purchased from any hatchery. (Poultry farm 

advisors recommend purchasing only from breeding flocks approved 

by the USDA National Poultry Improvement Program, which certifies 

flocks to be free of certain diseases.) Organic management must begin 

no later than the second day of life.

Nutrition: Feed, Supplements, and Additives

Organic poultry must be fed rations sufficient to meet nutritional requirements, including vitamins, minerals, protein and/or amino acids, fatty 

acids, energy sources, and fiber. Agricultural ingredients must be certified organic. Oyster shell may be used as a calcium supplement to 

strengthen eggshells. All feed rations, additives, and supplements must 

be listed with complete brand name, formulation, and manufacturer in 

the producer’s Organic System Plan (OSP).

Synthetic methionine is an amino acid that may be used in certified 

organic feed rations in limited quantities that are specified by the regulations (two pounds per ton of chickenfeed; three pounds per ton of 

turkey or other poultry feed). This level of use will be allowed until the 

sunset date on this regulation. (Please check with your certifier and the 

National Organic Program website to verify this date.)

Organic poultry producers must not use animal drugs, including hormones, to promote growth. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

prohibits hormone use in all poultry production, whether organic or 

non-organic .) Additionally, organic producers must avoid products such 

as non-organic “medicated” chick starter, which includes antibiotics. 

Arsenic is included in some non-organic broiler feed as a feed stimulant 

and for protozoan parasite control. Arsenic should not be included in 

organic rations; its use is prohibited for organic crop production, so it 

must not be “applied” to organic land through poultry manure. Organic 

producers must not use feed supplements or additives in amounts above 

what is needed for adequate nutrition and health maintenance. Organic 

regulations specify that it is prohibited to feed mammalian or poultry 

slaughter by-products to mammals or poultry, or to use any feed, feed 

additives, and feed supplements in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, 

and Cosmetic Act. 

Although pasture is not required for organic poultry, outdoor access 

is required. Production systems that allow poultry to forage fulfill the 

requirement for outdoor access and can provide for healthy living conditions. Pasture-based systems can be certified 

organic when they use organic feed, preventative health care, and avoid prohibited materials. House-based systems 

are also permitted for organic production, provided they allow for access to the outdoors and direct sunlight, and otherwise fulfill all other regulatory requirements described below in Living Conditions.

A clean environment for young birds, along with 

selection of well-adapted poultry breeds, are foundations of preventative health care for organic poultry. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT

Organic poultry must be provided with rations that 

are 100% organic and allowed ingredients for good 

nutrition and productivity. A grain silo is one way to 

protect feed from the elements and pests. Photo: Ann 

Baier, NCAT
www.attra.ncat.org Page 3

Preventative Health Care

Organic regulations require preventative health care, beginning with appropriate selection of species and breeds, an 

overall healthy environment with good sanitation and biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases, and 

measures to minimize stress. Vaccination against prevalent diseases of poultry is allowed in organic poultry production, 

as long as the vaccines are not genetically modified. Vaccines commonly used in the United States include those for 

Marek’s disease, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis. Preventative practices and healthy living conditions, such 

as maintaining clean feeding and watering systems, are critical to reducing diseases such as Coccidiosis, which is caused 

by a protozoan parasite. Probiotics, or beneficial microbes, may be fed or added to drinking water to establish beneficial 

microflora. These work in the poultry’s gut, through competitive exclusion, to reduce pathogenic organisms such as Salmonella and E. coli. 

Use of parasiticides is prohibited in organic slaughter stock of any kind, 

including poultry. Parasiticides are limited to uses specified in the Livestock healthcare practice standards, the National List, and only by written order of a licensed veterinarian if required. Organic regulations 

§205.238(b) specify the conditions under which parasiticides may be 

used. §205.238(c)(6) also states “The producer of an organic livestock 

operation must not: Administer animal drugs in violation of the Federal 

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act”. The producer must, therefore, be aware 

of, and avoid recommendations for off-label use of any drug.

Physical alterations of organic livestock are allowed only when necessary to promote the animals’ welfare, and when they are performed in 

a matter that minimizes pain and stress. Most organic producers find 

alterations such as beak trimming to be unnecessary when they have 

designed their systems and management practices to provide adequate 

space, include roosters for natural social order, and use other strategies 

to reduce stress among birds.

Living Conditions 

A healthy environment that minimizes stress is foundational to production of healthy birds. Organic poultry, like all organic livestock, must have 

access to the outdoors, shelter, exercise areas, 

fresh air, clean drinking water, shade, and direct 

sunlight--suitable for the animal’s stage of life, 

climate, and environment. Animals need to 

express their natural behaviors to maintain good 

health. For poultry, this includes exercise, roosting, scratching, and dustbathing, which, among 

other benefits, helps control ectoparasites. 

Chicks, poults, and other young birds are typically confined during brooding to keep them 

warm and safe from predators. Outdoor access 

is required for all poultry once they have adequate feathering. Confinement of poultry after 

this stage of development—about four weeks 

for chickens—must be documented and justified according to the reasons for temporary 

confinement allowed in §205.239: inclement 

weather; stage of life; health, safety, or wellbeing; risk to soil or water quality; healthcare—

illness or injury; sorting, shipping or sale; breeding; and youth projects.

Laying hens on pasture with clean water, Solseeker 

Farm at Hain Ranch Organics. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT

Living conditions required by organic regulations include access to the outdoors, 

shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight, as shown at Everett Family Farm. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT
Page 4 Tipsheet: Organic Poultry Production for Meat and Eggs

Housing must be designed to protect birds from the elements, with reasonable temperatures for health and stress 

reduction. Although organic programs in other countries, and animal welfare programs in the United States, specify 

minimum per-bird requirements for roost space, housing area, and outdoor access, as well as limits on the size and 

density of flocks, NOP organic regulations do not quantify how much living or roosting space is adequate. Instead, they 

focus on qualitative descriptions of living conditions and the purpose of the requirements: that livestock producers create living conditions that minimize stress. Any production practice that restricts space or outdoor access, or otherwise 

compromises healthy living conditions, will not comply with organic regulations.

In organic production, use of lumber treated with prohibited materials is not allowed where it will contact soil, crops, 

or livestock. 

Supplemental lighting, commonly used in layer operations to diminish seasonal dips in rate of lay during winter months, 

is not specifically addressed in the organic regulations. Describe your proposed practices with respect to lighting in 

your Organic System Plan (OSP), to be reviewed and approved by your certifier.

Good air quality is extremely important to birds’ health because dust and high levels of ammonia in the air can cause 

respiratory problems. Adequate ventilation, appropriate bedding (high-carbon material to absorb the nitrogen in the 

manure), and regular cleaning of poultry housing are all important. 

Feed-storage facilities, feeder design, and maintenance procedures must keep poultry feed clean. Practical considerations (some of which are common sense and not covered explicitly in organic regulations) are listed below: 

y Provide balanced rations and adequate feed to birds. Layers are often fed free choice, such that they may eat 

their fill. However, fast-growing meat birds, such as Cornish cross, are prone to heart attacks and leg problems when they overeat; their daily feed quantity needs to be limited to reasonable rations for the breed. 

y Protect feed from factors that diminish its nutritional quality and health, such as moisture (which may allow 

growth of undesirable microorganisms) and excess heat (which degrades vitamins).

y Manage rodents to prevent both feed loss through consumption and introduction of pathogens through 

rodent droppings.

y Position feeders to prevent birds from standing, scratching, or defecating in the feed to prevent disease and 

parasite reinfection.

Watering equipment needs to provide a reliable supply of clean, cool water. Birds drink twice as much, by weight, as 

they eat. Because they eat in proportion to their drinking, poultry health, growth, and productivity depend on a reliable supply of good water. Poultry prefer cool water over warm water. Check and maintain watering systems regularly 

to ensure reliable function and prevent leaks that waste water and create fly habitat. 

Predator management, while not directly 

addressed by organic regulations, is necessary 

for the safety and well-being of both poultry 

and predators. Keeping predators at bay is critical to the survival, health, and stress reduction 

of poultry. In addition, the manner in which 

predator management is accomplished must 

maintain or improve the natural resources of 

the operation, including soil and water, wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. Predator management practices must be designed and carried out in ways that prevent wildlife contact 

with livestock. Producers must “train” each type 

of potential predator not to perceive their livestock as prey. Protecting livestock against predators must be done with conscientious planning 

in order to protect the lives of both potential 

predator and potential prey to promote ecological balance, as is required by the definition of 

“organic production” in §205.2 of the organic 

regulations. 

Pastured poultry farmer Aurelio Lopez of Fiesta Farm with guard dog. Photo: Ann 

Baier, NCAT
www.attra.ncat.org Page 5

Predator management strategies should consider some combination of the following: physical barriers such as housing 

and fencing; deterrents such as “predator eyes” lights, motion sensor lights or sprinklers; management barriers such as 

placement of housing to make livestock less accessible to ground and air predators; and regular presence of humans 

and well-trained guard animals. Certain breeds of dogs have especially good instincts and can respond well to training for this occupation. 

Organic poultry need appropriate, clean, dry “bedding,” usually used to line nest boxes to keep eggs clean. If the bedding material used is an agricultural crop that may be consumed, that crop must be organically grown. Check with your 

certifier as to whether poultry nest-box-lining materials, such as straw or rice hulls, must be certified organic if poultry do not consume such materials. When forest products such as wood shavings are used, they need not be certified 

organic, but must consist only of plant products that are untreated with any prohibited material. 

Manure management is a critically important part of an organic livestock operation. Per §205.239(e), “The producer of 

an organic livestock operation must manage manure in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, 

soil, or water by plant nutrients, heavy metals, or pathogenic organisms and optimizes recycling of nutrients and must 

manage pastures and other outdoor access areas in a manner that does not put soil or water quality at risk.” Although 

hydrated lime is allowed per §205.603 as an external pest control, its use is not permitted to cauterize physical alterations or to deodorize animal wastes.

Handling (Processing)

Handling facilities for processing meat or eggs may be on- or off-farm. Regardless of their location, organic operations 

must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, such as those related to meat inspection and marketing, egg handling and egg handler registration, 

sanitation, water use, and waste management. 

In order to sell eggs as organic, they must be 

handled in certified organic handling facilities 

and using allowed materials. Materials commonly used in egg handling include cleaners, 

sanitizers, and egg-coating materials. These are 

listed in §205.605(a) and (b) with any restrictions 

on their use as sanitizers (chlorine materials, 

potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, sodium carbonate, and peracetic 

or peroxyacetic acid); defoaming agents (ingredients must be organic or on the National List, 

i.e., silicon dioxide, lecithin, organic vegetable 

oil), and egg coatings (organic oils). As noted 

above, any material planned for use must be 

listed in your OSP and approved by your certifier for its intended use. In addition to being 

allowed under NOP organic regulations, egg 

handling methods and materials must meet 

federal regulations: USDA Grading Standards (Agricultural Marketing Service or AMS); Egg Products Inspection Act or 

EPIA, Egg Safety Rule, and Food Code (Food and Drug Administration); the National Poultry Improvement Act (Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS); Flock Health & Production, Research, Statistical Information (from the 

Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS, Agricultural Research Service or ARS, and National Agricultural Statistics 

Service or NASS). They must also meet state and local requirements as applicable, such as regulations of State Departments of Agriculture, Departments of Health Services, Industry Marketing Boards, and Farmers Market Boards, as well 

as Retail Food Codes. 

Similarly, in order for a producer to sell poultry meat as organic, it must be handled (processed) in a certified organic 

facility, using allowed practices and substances. Any materials used on equipment, food-contact surfaces, and organic 

products themselves must be: a) on the National List as allowed; b) listed in your OSP; and c) approved by your certifier for their intended use. Materials commonly used for poultry meat production include soaps/cleaners and sanitizers used in scalders and on evisceration tables, scales, or any other food-contact surfaces that organic products touch. 

Freshly gathered eggs. Eggshell colors are characteristic of different breeds of laying hens. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT
Page 6 Tipsheet: Organic Poultry Production for Meat and Eggs

Recordkeeping

Documentation needed to show implementation 

of the producer’s Organic System Plan and compliance with the National Organic Program organic 

regulations includes the following: 

y Source of birds (purchase receipts or 

brooding/hatching records)

y Feed sources (receipts and labels for 

purchased rations and feed supplements, production or purchase of 

organic forage or other agricultural 

feedstuffs)

y Preventative health care practices

y Production, handling, and sales records 

(meat-bird slaughter, packaging and 

sales; or egg collection, washing, candling, grading, and sales)

y Labels must be part of the producer’s 

OSP, approved by the certifier, and compliant with government regulations for labeling of meat (e.g. inspection or exemption, and safe food handling instructions) and eggs (“Sell by...[30 days from pack date]”, Julian 

date, keep refrigerated, etc.). See the ATTRA publication entitled Small-Scale Egg Handling for further details.

Resources

National Organic Program Resources

USDA Organic Regulations 7 CFR 205 

www.ams.usda.gov/nop

USDA National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances

www.ams.usda.gov/NOPNationalList

USDA National Organic Program Handbook 

www.ams.usda.gov/NOPProgramHandbook

y PM 11-12 Confinement of Poultry Flocks Due to Avian Influenza, or Other Infectious Diseases 

y NOP 5029 The Use of Kelp in Organic Livestock Feed

Market News and Transportation Data: Organic Poultry and Eggs

www.ams.usda.gov/marketnews

NCAT/ATTRA Resources

Print Publications

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultry/ 

y Organic Standards for Livestock Production: Excerpts of USDA’s National Organic Program Regulations

y Documentation Forms for Organic Crop and Livestock Producers

y Guide for Organic Livestock Producers

y Pastured Poultry Nutrition and Forages

y Growing Your Range Poultry Business: An Entrepreneur’s Toolbox

y Arsenic in Poultry Litter: Organic Regulations

y Small-Scale Egg Handling

y Small-Scale Poultry Processing

Turkeys on pasture. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT
www.attra.ncat.org Page 7

Videos

https://attra.ncat.org/video/#Poultry 

y Pastured Poultry Production and Profitability

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGFCsN-UaZs 

Presentations 

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultry/presentations.html

y Small-Scale Table Egg Quality and Processing

y Specialty and Small-Scale Poultry Processing

Spanish-Language resources 

https://attra.ncat.org/espanol/ganado.html#aves

Cornish Cross broilers shown in two styles of moveable pens on Fiesta Farm. Photo: Ann Baier, NCAT
Page 8 Tipsheet: Organic Poultry Production for Meat and Eggs

Produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology

www.ncat.org • 1-800-275-6228 (1-800-ASK-NCAT)

(Parent organization to the ATTRA Project, www.attra.ncat.org)

Tipsheet: Organic Poultry Production for Meat and 

Eggs

By Ann Baier, NCAT Agriculture Specialist

Published July 2015

This product was developed with support from 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program