Stiebrs Farms

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersYelm, WA
Websitehttps://stiebrsfarms.com/
Market AreaWA
Total Score1060

They write: “Stiebrs Farms was founded in 1953. We are now three generations strong with the fourth up and coming. Stiebrs Farms produces, processes and distributes all of their products on their own in the Pacific Northwest region.

Stiebrs certified organic and pasture-raised certified-organic hens are fed organic vegetarian feed and spend time outdoors in pastures. The pasture raised birds get rotated weekly. To maintain the integrity of their organic program, the Stiebrs family owns and operates their own certified organic feed mill. Stiebrs Farms cage-free and organic eggs are Certified Humane by Humane Farm Animal Care.”

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) 1060
4-egg
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points.
Ownership Structure
80Family owned corporation, produce all of own organic eggs
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in systems that benefit us all. Eggs sourced from a single operation receive the most points. Eggs of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points.
Commitment to Organic Label
25Stiebrs Farms produces both Organic and Cage Free eggs; single farm has split production
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards.
Other Labels and Standards
50Certified Humane (free range and cage free)
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions.
Flock Size(s)
75Flocks less than 10k birds are most common, with one supplier having a 15k flock size
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits.
Hen Housing and Exit Areas
60Fixed housing with moderate exit areas confirmed
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors.
Indoor Spacing
201.2 square feet per hen indoors
High scoring brands provide enough space to allow each hen to fully utilize their outdoor area, and to perform instinctive behaviors without harming the environment.
Outdoor Spacing
30Minimum of 2 square feet, but some barns get more spacing per bird
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round.
Quality of Outdoor Access
55Fixed houses have rotated or unrotated pasture depending on egg type; pasture raised are rotated twice a week. Maintains vegetation in all outdoor areas
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress.
Outdoor Access Timing
80Chicks introduced to outdoors at around 14 weeks
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life.
Enrichments
75Good enrichments in indoors and outdoor spaces
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming.
Alterations
70Beaks tipped at hatchery; no forced molting
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish.
Chicks and Pullets
80Purchases day old organic chicks
Brands that have low rates of deaths and utilize their spent hens for human consumption or similar score the highest.
Deaths, Culls, and Spent Hens
50Less than 10% death rate, unknown use for spent hens
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points.
Environmental Impacts
50Meets basic environmental stewardship rubrics; composts and sells manure
Feed Sourcing85Has own organic mill, local feed
Brands that score well here go above and beyond to ensure the highest animal welfare, taking into consideration their hens’ safety and cleanliness, natural behavior, and stress levels.
Animal Welfare
75Good animal welfare benchmark
Cornucopia believes you have a right to transparency. Top brands share information with Cornucopia via a survey and cooperate with our own independent investigations.
Transparency
100Full transparency
Brands do not receive points, but this information is offered for people with soy and/or gluten allergies.
Soy free and/or gluten free?
Not soy and gluten free
Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers).
Organic Certifier (non-scoring)
WSDA
Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form.
Extra Credit
0None