Skagit River Ranch
Owner(s): George & Eiko Vojkovich
Address: 28778 Utopia Road, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
Phone: 360-856-0722
Email: eiko@cnw.com
Website: www.skagitriverranch.com
- What chicken breed(s) do you raise?Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Sex links
Why did you choose those breed(s), and are you satisfied with their performance?Heavy brown egg layers. Also makes good stewing hens.
Which breed’s eggs did you send in to be tested?All of the above
How many laying hens do you have?About 1,000
In what year of laying are the hens?2-year olds and pullets
Approximately how many eggs do they lay per hen, per month? Please include seasonal variations.50-60%
What, if any, measures do you take to extend the egg production season?
Just good feed and open pasture.
Just good feed and open pasture.
What kind(s) of supplemental feed do you use? Please be as specific as possible, including the brand name or farm where you get your feed.Barleans’ flaxseeds
If you have kept confined hens, can you estimate how much less feed hens raised on pasture consume?
We don’t have any confined hens.
We don’t have any confined hens.
Tell us about the living and ranging conditions of your hens. For example, what kind of pens do you have? Did you build them yourself? Do you use moveable pens? If so, how often do you move the birds to fresh pasture? What is the approximate size of the area on which your chickens are free to range and forage on a given day? Are there any specific plants in the pasture that you know your birds eat?We build movable pens on skids ourselves, about 10-by-20 feet. The houses are on 2 acres of land, moves every 2 weeks to a new pasture (except in winter flood season). The birds expecially likes clovers & other short stemmed fresh grass.
How would you characterize the area in which you live—urban, suburban or rural? Are there any local regulations you had to meet to be able to raise chickens?Rural
Have you had problems with predators, and how have you solved them?We have problems with coyotes. We play old radios in hen houses (especially late night talk shows).
Do you sell your eggs? If so, where and for how much?Yes, we sell them at $3.50- 5.50/doz.
Can you estimate how much you earn per year, per bird?$60/bird/year
What do you think are the main reasons customers choose your eggs? (flavor, nutrition, more humane conditions, etc.)First: Taste. Second: Humane treatment of animals. Third: Nutrition. In that order.
Do you have any notable comments from customers that you can share with us? Are there any customers whose contact information you can give us so we can talk directly with them about why they choose your eggs?Many reference available.. We have many royal customers who would stand in line 30 minutes before the market opens to get our eggs. Renee Bourgault, owner of “Breadfarm”, an organic bakery, who has been using our eggs last 4 years can probably give you the best “technical” information on our eggs. Her phone number is 360-766-4065.
Many of you have expressed dismay at our using the term “free-range eggs,” because of the way that language has been tarnished by certain producers whose birds really have no access to fresh pasture. Are you aware of any of these “industrial free-range” farms in your area? If so, please provide us with as much information about the producer as possible.Yes, we know of them, and it’s very, very sad. Call George at 360-395-5504 if you want more info.
Feel free to share any additional comments with us.
NUTRITION TEST RESULTS
- On what date were your egg samples shipped to the lab?
June 6, 07
- Please confirm that we have recorded your test results accurately. If your report shows different values, please indicate that by making a note on the correct line below.
Cholesterol: 335 mg
Omega-3: 740 mg
Vitamin E: 6 IU
Folic acid: 10.1 mg
Selenium: ND: 0.08
Beta carotene: 166 IU
Retinol: 847 IU
Total vitamin A: 1013 IU
Other: