World’s Best Eggs
Rating | |
Farm/Brand Headquarters | Elgin, TX |
Website | www.coyotecreekfarm.org |
Market Area | Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana |
Total Score | 2430 |
Coyote Creek Farm is home to the organic, pasture-raised hens who produce Jeremiah Cunningham’s World’s Best Eggs. Our happy chickens live outdoors and are able to fully express their natural behaviors by scratching in the dirt and eating bugs and vegetation from the nutrient-rich pastures. In addition to the hens’ wild diet, they eat feed that is certified organic and freshly milled on-site at Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill. Our hens freely enjoy the open pastures and are able to socialize with other hens while soaking in the sunshine. Multiple enrichments are offered to enhance their experience, including roosts and perches, shade cloths, private nest boxes, patio misters, and dust baths.
Eggs from World’s Best Eggs are nutrient-dense, high in Omega-3 fatty acids, and low in cholesterol. At Coyote Creek Farm, our goals include long-term sustainability through holistic management, support for organic producer and consumer education, and advocating for small family farming and the humane treatment of all farm animals.
Criteria | Points | Comment |
---|---|---|
TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2430 | 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 | 70 | private corporation that produces some eggs & buys eggs from other farmers |
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 85 | 500 to 1,500 hens/flock |
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) | 40 | Certified non-GMO Verified |
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 90 | Texas Dept. of Ag, NICS |
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 | outdoors all the time except perching & laying |
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, scratching areas, year-round pasture access |
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | outdoors all the time, no litter |
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 90 | mostly outdoor mobile coops, fixed houses have abundant windows |
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 100 | avg 442 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 | 80 | one door for every 251-500 hens |
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 | 100 | year-round outdoor access |
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 75 | mobile coops moved weekly, fixed houses with outdoor rotation |
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 spread around by birds onto pasture |
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 | avg of 2-3 years |
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, eggs |
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 100 | under 1% death loss |
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 |
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 | 1-2 weeks old |
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 80 | some grain is produced and milled on farm |
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | all domestically grown |
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | No | Soy-free eggs are available |
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 100 | No synthetic methionine, use fish meal, sesame meal, & other sources |
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | full disclosure |