WOW! I just got off the phone with an "organic" certification representative and what an eye opener.
Did you know that in order to sell eggs with the word "organic" on them the chickens can't have any access to treated lumber, or be on ground which has come into contact with treated lumber for three years? That means any posts for fences, or posts for your coop or your deck or any out buildings cannot have any treated lumber exposed to the chickens or the ground they walk on, including the pastures they walk in.
In fact, there is a serious question about where the water they get comes from(which might have to be tested), as well as any chemicals (roundup, yard fertilizer, etc) in use anywhere around them.
You can give your chickens no medications, no supplements and no treatments for pests or other afflictions.
The USDA owns the rights to the word "organic" and unauthorized use of it carries an $11,000 fine. PLUS the gov't just gave them a $9 million grant for enforcement.
Add all that stuff up and then consider the number of "visits" your operation will get from government agents and in my humble opinion, it isn't worth it.
Did you know that in order to sell eggs with the word "organic" on them the chickens can't have any access to treated lumber, or be on ground which has come into contact with treated lumber for three years? That means any posts for fences, or posts for your coop or your deck or any out buildings cannot have any treated lumber exposed to the chickens or the ground they walk on, including the pastures they walk in.
In fact, there is a serious question about where the water they get comes from(which might have to be tested), as well as any chemicals (roundup, yard fertilizer, etc) in use anywhere around them.
You can give your chickens no medications, no supplements and no treatments for pests or other afflictions.
The USDA owns the rights to the word "organic" and unauthorized use of it carries an $11,000 fine. PLUS the gov't just gave them a $9 million grant for enforcement.
Add all that stuff up and then consider the number of "visits" your operation will get from government agents and in my humble opinion, it isn't worth it.