Skokomish Valley Farms
Rating | |
Farm/Brand Headquarters | Shelton, WA |
Website | www.skokomishvalleyfarms.com/ |
Market Area | Western Washington |
Total Score | 2515 |
Skokomish Valley Farms is a collection of neighbors who come from diverse backgrounds. While we all have different reasons for being a part of the farm, we share a common love for the land and a strong desire to create a farm that provides delicious, wholesome food for ourselves and our community.
This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:
Criteria | Points | Comment |
---|---|---|
TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2515 | 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 | Small co-op, produces own eggs |
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | Under 500 birds |
Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | Single story mobile housing |
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 |
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | WSDA |
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 |
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 | Full outdoor access for birds |
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | Perches, dust baths, scratching, pasture access |
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | Year-round pasture access |
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | Birds are outdoors all day |
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 70 | 40 sq. ft. per bird |
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 with mobile housing |
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | Feed, water, shade |
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-round |
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 2-4 weeks |
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 |
Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | No forced molting |
Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 100 | No beak trimming |
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 80 | 2 years old |
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 | Sold live for food or as backyard layers |
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 20 | Over 8% |
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 90 | Breeds, incubates some chicks, purchases additional chicks |
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 weeks |
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 75 | Some feed (foddder, forages, vegetables) produced on farm |
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | All US grown feed |
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | No | Hens do not consume soy |
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 100 | No added methionine |
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | full disclosure |