Producer Spotlight: Feather Brook Farm

This week we would like to focus on another member of the “family of farms” represented in the Hidden Camp Farm Store: Feather Brook Farm. In this case the “family farm” is actually family members - John’s brother and sister in law own and operate Feather Brook Farm. Today we would like to share more about their operation, and the poultry that they produce.

Feather Brook Farm was established by Leroy and Mary King in 2016. 

Located a mere 12 miles from Hidden Camp Farm, Feather Brook Farm sits on 80 acres of woods and pasture near Fort Plain, New York. The name of the farm draws inspiration from a brook that runs within the property and the notion that it is a home to many varieties of “feathered friends”. Leroy, Mary, and their four children have raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese on the pastures and ponds of Feather Brook Farm. 

Chicks arrive at Feather Brook Farm when they are only one day old, and they enjoy a life that never includes cages. 

Cages are not the only things that these birds are free from, they will never receive steroids, antibiotics, or hormones either. The birds mature at a pace dictated by nature, not as a result of any force feeding or outside influence. Just like at Hidden Camp Farm, the birds are able to supplement their organic feed rations with the bounty of seeds, greens, and insects that the pastures contain. During the colder months they prefer the warmth of the barn, safe from the recent cold winds and snowfall.  

It is our belief that this organic approach to raising poultry, results in a healthier flock that produces more nutritious foods. This difference is also a visible one, as these birds have meat, organs, and fat that exhibit more vibrant colors than the pale counterparts often found in supermarkets. Studies have shown that pasture raised poultry contains greater levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Omega 3 fatty acids. By maintaining small flock sizes and fully processing the birds on site, Feather Brook Farm is able to consistently deliver high quality poultry. 

Larger commercial poultry operations may raise birds in groups of thousands, but at Feather Brook Farm the flock numbers can be counted in the dozens. This allows for a greater level of supervision over the health of each bird, from their first day until the time they have matured. 

In 2020, Feather Brook Farm completed construction of their on site processing facility. The process of selecting the mature birds, harvesting the meat, preparing the individual cuts, and packaging the products - is a process that Leroy and Mary complete by hand, and within a timeframe of just a few hours. We hope that you will agree: that having carefully and locally produced poultry, helps you to put more nutritious and delicious food on your table. 

Find Organic, Pastured Poultry from Feather Brook Farm here in the Hidden Camp Farm Store.