Skagit River Ranch
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Sedro Woolley, WA |
| Website | www.skagitriverranch.com |
| Market Area | NW Washington State |
| Total Score | 2550 |
They write: “Unlike so-called free-range chickens that are raised in confinement, our laying hens really live on pasture and eat grass, insects and organic grains as they roam in the green fields all day long. Our eggs sell so quickly at farmer’s markets that our customers stand in line for 15 minutes before the opening bell rings. They are that good!”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2550 | 5-Egg Rating | Top Rated |
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 | 100 | family farm, produce 100% of eggs |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | under 500 birds |
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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) | 100 | Real Organic Project certified |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | WSDA |
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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 | 100 | 100% organic |
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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 | 100 | 4-5 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 | 100 | perches, dust baths, scratching, and pasture access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | year-round pasture access |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | ÊBirds have ample access to the outdoors for natural light during all daylight hours |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 100 | 155 sq ft/henÊ |
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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 | 100 | birds kept on rotated pasture in mobile housing |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | feed, water, shade |
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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 | 100 | outdoor access year-roundÊ |
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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 | 80 | rotated pasture with mobile housing, moved every 2-3 months |
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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 | 100 | manure is spread out by birds through rotations |
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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 | 100 | no beak trimming |
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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 | 100 | avg 3Êyears old |
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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 | 100 | processed by owners as stewing hens |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 40 | around 8% |
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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 | 100 | 4-6 weeks |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | all grain milled on farm in addition to pasture access |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | buy all grain directly from local farms |
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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 | 100 | No synthetic methionine, use fishmeal instead |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 70 | no photo set |
