Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Answered
Orders & Shipping
How long will delivery take and how much does shipping cost?
We ship for 1–2 day transit using UPS Ground or 2-Day Air depending on your address. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout using real-time UPS rates based on weight/size and destination — the rate shown at checkout is the rate we pay. Learn More
How fast do you process and ship web orders?
Orders are typically processed and shipped within 1–2 business days. We ship perishable orders Monday–Wednesday (and Thursdays for North Carolina 1-day transit) and use a 12:00 PM ET cutoff so orders placed before noon begin processing the same business day when possible. Learn More
How will my order be packaged and is it safe if it thaws a bit?
Orders ship in recyclable corrugated boxes with insulated inserts; dry ice and/or reusable gel packs may be used and empty dry ice packaging on arrival is normal. Products should arrive frozen or partially frozen (ice crystals visible) or refrigerator cold (below 40°F) — if items are partially frozen or below 40°F they are safe to refreeze or refrigerate immediately. Follow the safe-handling instructions included with your shipment. Learn More
What if my package is impacted by weather or carrier delays?
Joyce Farms monitors conditions and ships as soon as it’s safe, but we are not responsible for carrier delays caused by severe weather, natural disasters, or carrier disruptions once the package is in transit. Please plan your order timing accordingly.
Do you accept returns? What if there’s a problem with my order?
We do not accept returns due to the perishable nature of our products. Refunds or replacements are provided only for approved claims related to food safety, quality, or Joyce Farms error. If you need to cancel or change an order contact us immediately — cancellations/changes may not be possible after processing begins. For claims, be ready to provide photos of the package and affected product(s), your order number, or the email used to place the order.
Products
Are Joyce Farms products gluten free?
Yes. Our poultry, sausages, game birds, pork, and beef are gluten free.
Are Joyce Farms products Halal or kosher?
No. Our products are not Halal or kosher.
Why does Heritage Black Turkey have dark spots on the skin?
Heritage Black Turkey has naturally dark plumage. During processing, pigment from the feathers can show through the skin as blue or black spots. This is a natural trait of the breed and does not affect quality or flavor.
Do you sell eggs?
No. We reserve our eggs for hatching.
What's the difference between Naked Chicken and Heritage Poulet Rouge® Chicken?
Heritage Poulet Rouge® Chicken is a slow-growing heritage breed raised on partner farms in North Carolina. It is pasture-raised, raised using regenerative methods, and air-chilled for deeper flavor and developed texture.
Naked Chicken is a domestic breed sourced from trusted producers and raised to our Nothing Added Ever standards. It is not pasture-raised and is water-chilled.
Do you sell live animals?
No. We do not sell live animals.
How can I purchase your products for my restaurant or retail store?
To learn more about our wholesale and foodservice options, please submit an inquiry through our contact form. A member of our team will follow up to discuss your needs.
What is the shelf life of your products?
Our frozen products have a freshness guarantee of 2 years from the pack date. After that, quality may begin to decline.
Is chlorine used in the processing of any of your poultry?
Our Heritage birds are air-chilled, so no chlorine is used. Our Naked birds are water-chilled, which uses a chlorine concentration of 50 parts per million.
Farms & Raising Standards
What do Joyce Farms birds eat?
Our Heritage birds, and the birds used in our Naked product line, all enjoy an all-natural diet that is primarily corn and soy and contains no antibiotics, or growth stimulants.
Are Joyce Farms products non-GMO?
Our Heritage Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork is our non-GMO program. The hogs are fed a vegetable-based diet supplemented with non-GMO corn grown and milled on the same regenerative farm.
For the rest of our lineup, including chicken, we do not make a non-GMO claim. Our chicken feed includes corn and soy, and because that grain supply is not identity-preserved from harvest through milling, those ingredients may be GMO.
Are your chickens raised outdoors or inside a barn?
It depends on the product line. Heritage Poulet Rouge® Chicken is pasture-raised after the first 6 weeks, with access to roam outdoors and shelter as needed. It is also GAP Step 4 certified for animal welfare. Naked Chicken is raised free-roaming in spacious barns and does not have pasture access, but meets our Nothing Added Ever standard.
Does Joyce Farms use arsenic in feed?
No. Our feed does not contain arsenic or arsenic residues.
Are Joyce Farms products organic?
No. We are not USDA Organic. Instead, all of our products are raised to our Nothing Added Ever standard—no antibiotics, no growth stimulants, and nothing artificial—with a strong focus on animal welfare and responsible farming practices.
Are your products raised in the USA?
Yes, all of the animals used for our products are born/hatched, raised, and harvested in the USA.