Our Products
Pasture Raised Chicken
We raise Cornish Cross broilers in mobile “chicken tractors.” Our birds spend their first 3 weeks indoors in a brooder where they are protected from weather and predators. At 3 weeks old they have enough feathers to be moved outside into our mobile pens. The pens are moved to fresh grass daily and surrounded by electric netting which has proven effective in keeping the birds safe from predators.
Our birds are fed a ration made on our farm from certified organic grains, most of which are grown by us. Once outdoors they supplement their feed with grass and bugs. They are never given hormones or antibiotics. At 6 weeks old, the birds are processed. Finished weights average 3-4 pounds. Our chickens are processed by Duncan’s Poultry in Missouri Valley.
Our family loves the taste and tenderness of pastured birds. There is simply no comparison to factory farmed chicken! Knowing where our birds come from and how they were raised also seems to make them taste just a little bit better!
Pasture Raised Pork
We raise a variety of heritage breed hogs that live outdoors. We believe pigs that have room to run, forage, root and wallow have superior quality and flavor to confinement raised pigs. In the summer months our pigs live on pasture and in the woods.
Our pigs are fed certified organic feed that we make on our farm. We vaccinate against common swine illnesses but our pigs are never given steroids, hormones or anti-biotics.
Our goal is to produce the most delicious, high-quality pork possible.
Pasture Raised Beef
We raise Aberdeen (formerly known as Lowline Angus) cattle. The Aberdeen breed is a smaller framed animal that performs well on grass while their smaller size has less impact on our fragile hills. Aberdeen beef has excellent flavor and tenderness.
The cattle spend the months of April-November being rotationally grazed on pasture and are brought into a deep bedded lot for the winter. In addition to grass and hay, we also feed spent grain from Full Fledged Brewing Company in Council Bluffs. Cattle are also given free-choice mineral and kelp.
Pasture Raised Turkey
Our Turkeys are raised in the same mobile tractors as our chickens. They are moved to fresh pasture daily and are fed certified organic feed in addition to grass and bugs that they forage. As with all our livestock, the turkeys never receive antibiotics, hormones, or any other poisons.
We raise one batch of Turkeys per year to coincide with Thanksgiving. Turkeys will be processed on the Monday prior and will be fresh! See our online store for details and to pre-order.
Turkeys average 13-15 lbs.
Organic Grain and Hay
The tillable crop ground at Hidden Hollow was certified organic in 2019. Crop rotation is the most important aspect in organic farming as it breaks up pest and weed cycles, improves the soil over time, and leads to overall healthier plants.
We use diverse, long-term crop rotation that includes: alfalfa hay, oats, corn, barley and soybeans. In addition we plant cover crops which help scavenge nutrients, improve moisture retention and reduce erosion.
Organic production allows us to use our own grain in our livestock feeds and to be more self-sufficient by reducing our use of purchased inputs. The livestock contribute fertility back to the soil. The downside is there are no “quick-fixes” to weed or pest problems.
Despite the challenges of organic production, we believe the economics make more sense for the small farmer. Most importantly, however, our farm is where our children play and where our food is grown so we do not want harmful substances to be a part of that environment.
If you would like to purchase feed or hay from Hidden Hollow please email us.