Managing the internal environment of the barn ensures birds can use all the space, which avoids aggression.
Sauder’s Eggs takes pride in providing the best-quality eggs from farms that put our core values into practice every day. With every task we perform and every exchange we have, our operations are guided by a high standard of ethics, including honesty, transparency, integrity, and fairness. We continue to set new benchmarks of excellence for egg quality, improved nutrition, and animal welfare.
Our family-owned and operated company works as an extension of many small, independent farms. Each farm must pass inspections to ensure the standards of its operations align with our own. With a network of around 1.1 million hens that produce our Sauder’s Eggs branded eggs, our non-debeaking commitment is a promise to treat poultry with respect and ensure the well-being of birds through environmental enrichment.
Debeaking, or beak trimming, is the partial removal of a bird’s beak in commercial poultry farming. The procedure is typically performed within the first few days of a chick’s life and aims to prevent issues such as feather pecking and injury amongst their sisters.
The tip of a bird’s beak contains sensory receptors, nerve tissue, and blood vessels. Animal welfare organizations have expressed concerns about debeaking and its impact on the health and behavior of birds, noting evidence of pain, stress, and reduced behaviors such as feeding, foraging, immediately after the procedure.
At Sauder’s Eggs, we committed to stop debeaking our hens with all new Free Range, Free Range Organic, Pasture Raised and Pasture Raised Organic flocks whose Large and Extra Large eggs are packed in Sauder’s Eggs branded cartons after April 2026. Our philosophy focuses on improving living conditions and using management practices that reduce stress or aggression within each flock. We have been testing these for multiple years and have determined a process that works.
Some benefits of not debeaking include:
Some alternative strategies and approaches that support non-debeaking practices include:
Managing the internal environment of the barn ensures birds can use all the space, which avoids aggression.
Offer distractions and fulfill natural behaviors to prevent stress-related pecking.
Let the hens roam outside as much as possible to forage for insects, grass and flowers to snack on.
to keep the birds occupied and clean.
Maintain dry and clean conditions to prevent foot and skin irritation, which can trigger pecking.
Provide adequate levels of essential nutrients and vitamins to avoid pecking-related deficiencies
Keep the flock size manageable while allowing for commercial viability so more people can enjoy eggs produced this way.
Our focus is on using data and research from other countries, as well as records from our own farms, to test and learn new approaches that enhance our flocks’ well-being. We remain committed to supporting effective flock management practices and environmentally responsible strategies. Optimizing housing and providing enrichment to encourage natural behaviors offer a more humane approach to prevent pecking issues. Happier hens bring higher-quality eggs and products to our market.
We stay current with the latest industry updates, research, and development. Explore our info center to learn more, or use our store locator to shop for eggs today.