Stiebrs
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Yelm, WA |
| Website | www.stiebrsfarms.com |
| Market Area | Western U.S. |
| Total Score | 1975 |
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 Farms Sunrise Fresh label hens are raised in large cage-free henhouses, in which hens lay eggs in nests and are free to run, preen and socialize. They are fed a pure vegetarian diet of corn, wheat, barley and soy, and never receive hormones or antibiotics. The Stiebrs’ flock of omega-3 hens are also fed organic flaxseed. 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.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 1975 | 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 | 100 | family owned corporation, produce all of own eggs |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 60 | flocks avg 9,500 |
|
Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
|
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 | HFAC, GAP, Non-GMO |
|
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 | 40 | raise and sell both organic and conventional eggs |
|
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 | 80 | 1.5 sq ft/henÊ |
|
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, litter, outdoor access |
|
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | freshened weekly |
|
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 80 | some natural light via windows |
|
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 50 | 2-29 sq ft/hen |
|
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 |
|
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 60 | 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 | 70 | let out daily after morning lay |
|
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 65 | fixed houses with rotated pasture or non-rotated pasture |
|
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 90 | some used on farm, some shared with local grain growers, some sold |
|
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 | 80 | beaks tipped on day 1 |
|
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 40 | 72-75 weeks average |
|
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 | 80 | sold to rendering plant for pet food |
|
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 60 | 6% |
|
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 80 | raise up pullets from 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 | 60 | 14 weeks |
|
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | mill all of own feed |
|
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 60 | try to secure all domestic grains when possible |
|
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 |
|
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
|
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 40 | not a full photo set, would not all a farm tour |
