Feathers

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Feathers

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Feathers
Federn

What are feathers?

Feathers form the main outer protection of the bird´s body. Feathers have a flat, two-dimensional shape with a continuous quill in the middle that is basically a shaft. Fine closely spaced feather barbules grow from the shaft. These barbules are also called vane.

Feathers form the main outer protection of the bird´s body. Feathers have a flat, two-dimensional shape with a continuous quill in the middle that is basically a shaft. Fine closely spaced feather barbules grow from the shaft. These barbules are also called vane.

Feathers are heavier than down.
 
The plumage of waterfowl is suited for the use as bedfeathers, more precisely the plumage of geese and ducks. Feathers deriving from waterfowl have a strongly curved quill (the shaft of the feather with fine barbules) ensuring that feathers do not lose their resilience over time. This property, which means the capacity to recover its original shape after having been compressed, forms the basis for heat insulation. If the quilt is aired, small air-filled pockets will be formed. Since air is a poor heat conductor, the countless hollows offer protection from cold.
 
The bedfeathers used as filling material for duvets and pillows almost exclusively originate from domestic ducks and geese. Eiderducks living in the wild are an exception, since their down (eiderdown) are collected from the nests after the young leave the nest.
 
Valid terms and definitions for down and feathers have been stipulated in a standard (EN 1885).
 
Excerpts from the standard (illustrations and definitions, for instance “down”, “goose feather”, “processed feather”) are available on www.edfa.eu -> Consumer information -> Glossary.
 
Federn

The goose feather

A completely-developed goose feather has a round and blunt shape. The feather is strongly curved and its shape appears to be rather compact. At the lower end, the vane which is the whole of feather barbs intimately connected among them by means of barbules, looks as if it has been cropped.

In comparison to duck feathers, goose feathers are often bigger and stronger which comes from the size and the physique of the birds the material derived from.

A completely-developed goose feather has a round and blunt shape. The feather is strongly curved and its shape appears to be rather compact. At the lower end, the vane which is the whole of feather barbs intimately connected among them by means of barbules, looks as if it has been cropped.

In comparison to duck feathers, goose feathers are often bigger and stronger which comes from the size and the physique of the birds the material derived from.

A goose feather with 2.36. inches (6 cm) in length weighs about 0.0241 g. A goose feather with 3.94 inches (10 cm) in length weighs about 0.0436 g.
 

 

Federn

The duck feather

Like the goose feather the duck feather is also strongly curved from the lateral view.

Compared to the goose feather it is often more delicate and smaller. Duck feathers taper towards their tips or form a radiate shape.
 
Like the goose feather the duck feather is also strongly curved from the lateral view.

Compared to the goose feather it is often more delicate and smaller. Duck feathers taper towards their tips or form a radiate shape.
 
Federn Daunen Herkunft

Why are most down and feathers imported?

Down and feathers are a by-product of meat production. Consequently, their production depends strongly on the nutritional habits of the respective country. A high consumption of geese and duck meat means a large amount of down and feathers. This is the case in most Asian countries where poultry meat plays a dominant role in the diet.
 
Down and feathers are a by-product of meat production. Consequently, their production depends strongly on the nutritional habits of the respective country. A high consumption of geese and duck meat means a large amount of down and feathers. This is the case in most Asian countries where poultry meat plays a dominant role in the diet.
 
Herkunft Federn Daunen

What are the regions of origin of down and feathers?

Raw down and feathers, the so-called raw material, traditionally come from Eastern Europe (Hungary, Poland) and Asia (China, Taiwan) but countries like Canada, France and Russia also supply significant quantities. The regions of area are also called provenance.
 
The filling material is mainly imported from countries in which poultry is mainly kept for the purpose of human nutrition and therefore intensive poultry farming is conducted. That applies to China among others.
Raw down and feathers, the so-called raw material, traditionally come from Eastern Europe (Hungary, Poland) and Asia (China, Taiwan) but countries like Canada, France and Russia also supply significant quantities. The regions of area are also called provenance.
 
The filling material is mainly imported from countries in which poultry is mainly kept for the purpose of human nutrition and therefore intensive poultry farming is conducted. That applies to China among others. In contrast, poultry farming in Hungary and Poland is conducted with the main goal of meat export. In France, especially those ducks are bred whose feathers can be partly used for the home requirements and partly for the export.
 
The climate in which the birds live plays an important role for the quality of down and feathers. Geese and ducks, which live in regions with short summers and long winters (e.g. Iceland, Canada, Siberia) develop a correspondent plumage that protects them against extreme cold. Those down and feathers therefore have an especial high heat-insulating capacity.

 
Federn Daunen Herkunft

How are down and feathers collected from the birds? Are they plucked from the living animal?

Down and feathers as a by-product
Down and feathers are a by-product of poultry meat production. The amount of the geese and ducks kept for this purpose are closely connected to the corresponding meat consumption. In Asian countries, for instance, poultry meat is one of the main foods of the population.
Down and feathers as a by-product
Down and feathers are a by-product of poultry meat production. The amount of the geese and ducks kept for this purpose are closely connected to the corresponding meat consumption. In Asian countries, for instance, poultry meat is one of the main foods of the population. In the Easter European countries, by contrast, the export of poultry meat is to the fore.
 
 
Plucking
Down and feathers are usually collected after slaughtering of the birds.
 
The moulting, the natural shed of the plumage, also plays a role for the collecting of down and feathers after the slaughtering. It is important that ducks and geese are slaughtered exactly at the time of their moulting period in order not to hurt their skin. For most birds, this is the case when they reach the first moulting period, i.e. ducks at the age of 8 to 12 weeks and geese at the age of 14 weeks.
 
Those birds that are not primarily destined for meat production, but for instance kept for breeding purposes (breeding geese) live longer and undergo a process during which the feathers are shed due to hormonal reasons (moulting season). Down and feathers from those birds can be collected manually.
 
The material harvested from the living birds is of particular high quality as it usually comes from older, further developed birds which make it more expensive, too. Nowadays, there is a high demand for such collected down and feathers predominantly in Asian countries (especially Japan).
 
 
Hand plucking
Geese reach their moulting period at the age of 12 to 14 weeks which means that the down and feathers shed and are replaced by new ones.
Thus, down and feathers are harvested by hand when the natural moulting process takes place.
One has to wait until the down and feathers have reached the right degree of maturity. Feathers then grow again after 6 to 7 weeks and the cycle repeats itself. Harvesting of feathers concerns the traditional breeding geese (which lay eggs and produce offspring). They reach the moulting period 3 to 4 times a year.
 
Only a fraction of the traded down and feathers is collected from geese by hand. According to estimates, over 98% of the worldwide supply of down and feathers are harvested after the slaughtering of the bird as the consumer prefers young meat from smaller birds (statistic calculations of the European Down and Feather Association, EDFA).
 

 

Federn Daunen

Are down and feathers environment-friendly?

Down and feathers are continuously regrowing raw materials. They consist of natural protein and do not contain any harmful substances.
  • Down and feathers are a by-product of meat production. They originate mainly from countries with high consumption of goose and duck meat. Geese and ducks are not kept for the purpose of harvesting down and feathers.
  • Down and feathers are produced through the natural process of growing of the fowl.  
  • Down and feathers are biodegradable and even provide valuable fertilizer.
Down and feathers are continuously regrowing raw materials. They consist of natural protein and do not contain any harmful substances.
  • Down and feathers are a by-product of meat production. They originate mainly from countries with high consumption of goose and duck meat. Geese and ducks are not kept for the purpose of harvesting down and feathers.
  • Down and feathers are produced through the natural process of growing of the fowl.  
  • Down and feathers are biodegradable and even provide valuable fertilizer. Hence, they can be disposed of without polluting the environment.

 

Further Information at DOWNAPEDIA:

 

 

Federn Wärmeisolation

What kinds of feathers offer favourable heat-insulating properties?

Due to their chemical structure, feathers are poor heat conductors. Besides, they form millions of small hollows (air pockets) imbedding a large volume of air which acts as an insulating layer.
 
Goose and duck feathers have a curved and soft quill which brings about excellent fill power, i. e. the capacity to unfold the largest possible volume again and again, at the same time imbedding millions of insulating air pockets.
 
Chicken feathers, however, have a flat shape. The main part of the quill is flat, i.e. the firm shaft in the middle.
Due to their chemical structure, feathers are poor heat conductors. Besides, they form millions of small hollows (air pockets) imbedding a large volume of air which acts as an insulating layer.
 
Goose and duck feathers have a curved and soft quill which brings about excellent fill power, i. e. the capacity to unfold the largest possible volume again and again, at the same time imbedding millions of insulating air pockets.
 
Chicken feathers, however, have a flat shape. The main part of the quill is flat, i.e. the firm shaft in the middle. They are not resilient enough to “fluff up“ again, for instance after having been compressed by the human body. Therefore, they are less suitable as filling material for pillows and duvets than the plumage of waterfowl.
 
Goose and duck feathers place underneath down as well as regards fill power and insulating capacities. Nevertheless, they are frequently used as filling material for pillows - partially in combination with down.
 
Further information at DOWNAPEDIA:

 

Federn Füllung

Do chicken feathers also suit as filling material for duvets?

Down and feathers offer excellent insulating properties due to their capacity to “fluff up”. This property is also referred to as “fill power“ that is to say the capacity to unfold the largest possible volume again and again at the same time imbedding millions of insulating air pockets.
 
Goose and duck feathers have a curved elastic shaft, the so-called quill.
Down and feathers offer excellent insulating properties due to their capacity to “fluff up”. This property is also referred to as “fill power“ that is to say the capacity to unfold the largest possible volume again and again at the same time imbedding millions of insulating air pockets.
 
Goose and duck feathers have a curved elastic shaft, the so-called quill.
 

Chicken feathers, however, have a flat shape. The main part of the quill is flat, i.e. the firm shaft in the middle. They are not resilient enough to “fluff up“ again, for instance after having been compressed by the human body. Therefore, they are less suitable as filling material for pillows and duvets than the plumage of waterfowl.

In order to receive a good heat-insulating effect with chicken feathers, a relatively great amount of filling material is necessary – so the duvet is quite heavy and often regarded as uncomfortable by the sleeper.

 

Further information at :

Federn Daunen

Are white down or feathers better than coloured ones?

No. The shade of a down or a feather tells nothing about its quality. The most expensive down, the eiderduck down, has a dark brown colour.
 

Further information at:

No. The shade of a down or a feather tells nothing about its quality. The most expensive down, the eiderduck down, has a dark brown colour.
 

Further information at: