Blue Sky Family Farms (Egg Innovations)
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Port Washington, WI |
| Website | www.egginnovations.com |
| Market Area | Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic |
| Total Score | 2035 |
Family owned and operated, Egg Innovations is headquartered in Port Washington, Wisconsin and originates Free Range and Pasture Raised organic, non-GMO and conventionally fed eggs under the Blue Sky Family Farms brand. They can be found in finer natural and grocery stores throughout the Midwest and Northeast. Our eggs are raised by family farmers on farms across WI, OH, IN and KY. Every detail matters in producing consistently great eggs, that’s why we provide all of our partner farmers with barn plans, animal husbandry training, birds, feed, and support. Certified Humane by third parties, our birds really are free to roam inside and out, enjoying green grass, sunshine and fresh air as good weather permits.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2035 | 4-Egg Rating | Excellent |
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own eggs receive the most points. Corporations that do not produce any eggs receive the fewest points.
Ownership Structure | 70 | Supplied by privately held with close relationship to supplier farmers, dictate strict standards |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 40 | Around 20,000 in each house |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | Single |
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Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Certifications (bonus points) | 60 | All farms Certified Humane, some also American Humane |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 85 | Quality Certification Services |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 90 | All farms are managed organically, on certified organic farms but feed options differ |
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More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest.
Indoor Space per Bird | 50 | 1.2 sq ft/hen |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 80 | Perches, dust baths, scratching areas, year round-pasture access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | Every flock new litter plus weekly freshening |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 80 | Some natural light via windows, supplemented with electric lighting |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 70 | Minimum 22 sq ft/hen |
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Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 70 | One door per 500-1,000 birds |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 80 | Shade, water outdoors |
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Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions | 70 | Any day with good weather |
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Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 60 | Fixed houses with non-rotated pasture |
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Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 80 | Composted and used on farm or sold |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | No forced molting |
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Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 80 | Most infrared tip beaks on day one of life (moving toward no alterations) |
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Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 80 | 90-95 weeks average |
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Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points.
Use of Spent Hens | 50 | Sold for meat to third party |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 70 | 4.5%, mostly due to natural causes |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 80 | Raise up from day old chicks |
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Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points.
Pullet Access to Outdoors | 90 | 8 weeks |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | Brand owns feed mill and supplies feed; no feed is produced on farm but birds acquire some of their dietary needs from pasture/vegetation |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 80 | Most feed produced domestically; actively work to secure US grown feed but can't be 100% certain, some soy sourced overseas |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | Yes | Soy in feed ration |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | Full disclosure |
