What started as a hobby over sixteen years ago has developed—through study, observation, research, and many, many trials and errors—into Thornfield Poultry first, and into what is now Thornfield Heritage Farm.  Our focus with poultry has always been bird health and breed quality.  We raise Black Copper Marans chickens, as well as the following Endangered Breeds of Silver Appleyard ducks, African Dewlap Geese, and Cotton Patch geese.  From poultry, we have expanded into the breeding wonderful, lovable Netherland Dwarf rabbits and Maine Coon cats.

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Thornfield Heritage Farm is a simple operation on a small farm we share with our feathered and furry friends, where we can give them plenty of loving care and attention.  Our birds live in three environments, each with plenty of fresh water, shade and large coops open to: 1) Pastureland and woodlands; 2) A fruit orchard, where the birds enjoy apples, peaches, pears, grapes, and plums (often before we do); and 3) A substantial enclosed area that encompasses a spring-fed pond, more fruit trees, and plenty of shade.

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Our poultry business, better known as Thornfield Poultry, is NPIP certified, which means that we are inspected and tested by the NC Department of Agriculture twice a year for Avian Influenza, Pullorum, and Fowl Typhoid.  Most states to which we are shipping require that we be NPIP Certified before they will allow our fertile eggs and day-old chicks into their state.  As such, we are very sensitive to our bio-security and do not allow other chicken owners onto our property as this could potentially expose our birds to unwanted pathogens.

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We developed a love a Netherland Dwarf rabbits some years ago from a breeder in Chapel Hill and have since formed a partnership where we focus on breeding Blue-Eyed White, Vienna-Marked, and Harlequin colors of Netherland Dwarfs.  Our rabbits are raised in a temperature-controlled facility and handled daily by us and by local volunteers.  If you live in or close to Hillsborough, NC and are interested in volunteering with us, please send an email to thornfieldrabbitry@gmail.com with Volunteer in the subject line.  We would love to hear from you!

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When my husband was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse large b-cell lymphoma in 2020, I began to look at expanding our business ventures to maintain & sustain our farm.  I have always loved Maine Coons, the largest domesticated breed of cats, and jumped at the chance to breed them.  After a lot of research, I decided to import purebred MCs from some of the top European and Russian breeders.  I carefully selected and continue to select lines so our breeding program will yield the best purebred offspring possible.  We thoroughly test and screen all of our breeders for genetic conditions & diseases commonly found in MCs, such as Factor XII Deficiency (Variants 1 and 2), MDR1 Medication Sensitivity, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Cystinuria Type B (Variant 3), Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency, blood type, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Acute Intermittent Porphyria (Variants 1 through 5), and more. 

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Our cats share our home and do not in a separate building.  Their daily socialization includes exposure to other people, dogs, birds, rabbits, vacuum cleaners, general household noise, and lots and lots of play.  Their diet consists of raw chicken, quality grain-free canned wet food (Fussie Cat is our preferred food), and Farmina's dry food for Adults and for Kittens.  The raw chicken comes from our own farm, where we know: what they are fed, that they are cage-free and pasture-raised with no antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides, have a constant source of clean water, and are kept in a clean environment.  We humanely cull our birds, then clean and grind the best parts to make the BEST ground chicken to feed our cats.

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Our entire family lives on and shares Thornfield Heritage farm.  We like to say that you can't swing a dead chicken and not hit a Perry here.   We work hard to care for, breed, and provide the best products and pets we can.  It is what we love.  It is what I love.  I put overalls on every day, one leg at a time.  I get filthy, my hands and fingers regularly crack and bleed, and some days I have to remember to wash my hair.  But I wouldn't change a thing.  Honesty, integrity, transparency, and a strong desire to give more than I receive are an intrinsic part of my being.  I love to help folks, explain MY mistakes--and I have made MANY of them--meet new folks, learn new things, act silly, and most of all laugh, especially at myself.  I detest dishonesty, scammers, lazy folks, people who feel entitled, robo-callers, losing my keys, and doing anything mundane.  I would love to hear from you, listen to your goals, answer your questions, and help you find solutions.  I will tell you about my poultry, my waterfowl, my sweet and very soft Netherland Dwarf rabbits, and my gorgeous, playful Maine Coon kittens and cats.  Feel free to call or text me at 919-302-5921 or email me at: thornfieldheritagefarm@gmail.com, info@thornfieldpoultry.com, thornfieldpoultry@gmail.com, thornfieldrabbitry@gmail.com, or thornfieldmainecoons@gmail.com.  If you don't reach me immediately, I will get back to you as soon as possible and I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Cheers,

Carter Perry

Thornfield Heritage Farm