Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken
Ethically motivated owners who want full supply chain transparency and humane certification
Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice
Owners who want deboned meat first with grain-inclusive quality at a premium price
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken
Ethically motivated owners who want full supply chain transparency and humane certification
Open Farm sets the industry standard for transparency — you can trace every ingredient back to its source on their website. Certified Humane, zero recalls, and genuinely premium ingredients. If you believe in voting with your wallet for ethical pet food practices, Open Farm is the clear choice.
Strengths
- Industry-leading transparency — every ingredient source is traceable and published online
- Certified Humane raised and handled with third-party animal welfare verification
- Zero recalls ever — perfect safety record since founding
Limitations
- Ultra-premium pricing at ~$2.05/day limits accessibility
- Smaller 22 lb bag increases cost-per-serving compared to larger format options
- Some recipes are grain-free, subject to FDA DCM investigation concerns
When to Choose Merrick Healthy Grains Chicken & Brown Rice
Owners who want deboned meat first with grain-inclusive quality at a premium price
Merrick puts deboned chicken — not chicken meal — as the first ingredient, which is a meaningful quality distinction. No corn, wheat, soy, and made in the USA with solid transparency. The Nestlé Purina ownership is a consideration for brand-conscious buyers, but the formula quality remains strong.
Strengths
- Deboned chicken is the #1 ingredient — real meat, not meal
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives/colors/flavors
- Made in the USA with locally sourced ingredients and clear labeling
Limitations
- Premium pricing at ~$1.50/day for the ingredient quality level
- Smaller 25 lb bag increases per-serving cost compared to larger formats
- Now owned by Nestlé Purina — corporate ownership may concern some buyers
