Wilcox Farms Pasture Raised
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Roy, WA |
| Website | www.wilcoxfarms.com |
| Market Area | Western U.S. |
| Total Score | 1885 |
Note: Wilcox did not add any information beyond what they provided for their regular organic eggs. It is unclear what practices they use for their pastured variety.
Wilcox Farms was started by Judson Wilcox in 1909. The 100 year old family farm is 4th generation run and is committed to sustainable and organic farming practices, with a deep commitment to converting to 100% cage free and organic. The care of our animals, employees and land is our upmost priority. Equally important is to build a local feed source for our animals.
Wilcox is currently growing organic crops and building partnerships with local farmers for additional feed sources. Wilcox Farms cares for the environment and has been innovative and conscience in sustainable farming methods by water conservation, organic composting, salmon and wildlife habitat.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 1885 | 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 | family owned business, produces majority of own eggs but contracts with a couple other farms |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 40 | flocks are 11,500-12,500 hens in size |
|
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) | 70 | certified humane, salmon safe, and food alliance certified |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 75 | Oregon Tilth |
|
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 | split operations with orgnic, cage-free, and conventional eggs on same property |
|
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 |
|
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 80 | perches, dust bats, scratching, but not year round outdoor access |
|
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 80 | litter freshened as needed, removed after each flock |
|
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 | 20 | 2 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 for every 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 | confined seasonally |
|
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 |
|
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 90 | composted and shared/sold to neighbor farmer who grows grain for them |
|
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 | 70 | beak trimming within first 10 days |
|
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 60 | avg 80-85 weeks old is policy |
|
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 | 70 | processed on farm for fertilizer |
|
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 80 | under 5% |
|
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 80 | raises own 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 | 20 | 20 weeks old |
|
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | some grain is produced on farms along with pasture |
|
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | all domestically grown feed |
|
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 | 100 | full disclosure for regular brand, did not add information on pastured raised |
