Feather extraction

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Feather extraction

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Feather extraction
Federn Daunen Federngewinnung

Which are the characteristic features of feathers and down from poultry?

 
Feathers and down from waterfowl (geese and ducks) are a unique natural resource of high quality. Used as filling for quilts, pillows and clothing, this material is distinguished by qualities such as breathability, humidity transport and thermal insulation together with a low weight.
 
Feathers and down from waterfowl (geese and ducks) are a unique natural resource of high quality. Used as filling for quilts, pillows and clothing, this material is distinguished by qualities such as breathability, humidity transport and thermal insulation together with a low weight. These special features account for the homogeneous distribution of feathers and down, for instance, in a quilt as well as for the fact that already small amounts of feathers and down are sufficient for the filling of a quilt.
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Federngewinnung

Is there a difference between ”harvesting feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting” and ”live-plucking”?

There is no difference on the level of technical terminology. The harvesting of feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting, which should more accurately be called “gathering” or “collecting” feathers and down, is usually carried out according to certain rules at the moment of the change of feathers, the moulting season, when a new generation of feathers has matured and the old feathers will therefore be shed.
 
The moulting in birds is the system provided by nature to shed an old feather coat.
There is no difference on the level of technical terminology. The harvesting of feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting, which should more accurately be called “gathering” or “collecting” feathers and down, is usually carried out according to certain rules at the moment of the change of feathers, the moulting season, when a new generation of feathers has matured and the old feathers will therefore be shed.
 
The moulting in birds is the system provided by nature to shed an old feather coat. The quill point is sticking very loosely in the feather follicle, because the nutrient supply of the feather has been interrupted due to hormonal reasons. This makes it possible to harvest the feathers from the live animal without inflicting any harm or hurting the goose or its skin. The technical literature on this topic has emphasized time and again that in general the sensitivity of poultry skin is much lower than the sensitivity of the skin of mammals.
 
Federngewinnung

Who defined what is “harvesting feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting” or “live plucking” and when was it defined?

How the harvesting feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting has to be carried out, is laid down e. g. in the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (see also: first publishing of the German translation of recommendations by the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes on February 7th, 2000 in the Bundesanzeiger [German Federal Gazette], volume 52 No.
How the harvesting feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting has to be carried out, is laid down e. g. in the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (see also: first publishing of the German translation of recommendations by the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes on February 7th, 2000 in the Bundesanzeiger [German Federal Gazette], volume 52 No. 89a, issued on May 11th, 2000 and in the standard concerning the harvesting of feathers and down from the live animal and the keeping of geese for the purpose of plucking.).
 
Although we have triggered this process, we merely forwarded the topic to a working group of experts, in order to have it dealt with on a supranational European level.
 
This convention specifically forbids inflicting any harm or injury on farm animals. Thus, it is forbidden to harvest feathers and down from live animals outside the moulting season, for example.
 
Federngewinnung

Is live-plucking forbidden?

 
Improper live-plucking is forbidden. The harvesting of feathers and down according to the rules from the live animal at the moment of moulting is not forbidden. The process has to conform to quite specific regulations, however. These regulations are laid down in a standard concerning the harvesting of feathers and down from the live animal and the keeping of geese for the purpose of plucking.
 
 
Improper live-plucking is forbidden. The harvesting of feathers and down according to the rules from the live animal at the moment of moulting is not forbidden. The process has to conform to quite specific regulations, however. These regulations are laid down in a standard concerning the harvesting of feathers and down from the live animal and the keeping of geese for the purpose of plucking.
 
Federngewinnung

Which animals are live-harvested and why?

 
As far as we know, ducks are not live-harvested, but only those geese, which are kept for the purpose of laying eggs and breeding. Throughout every year, these animals undergo several moulting seasons, the hormonally induced process of shedding their old plumage. Harvesting the feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting is a technique which has in former times been also applied for the purpose of landscape conservation.
 
As far as we know, ducks are not live-harvested, but only those geese, which are kept for the purpose of laying eggs and breeding. Throughout every year, these animals undergo several moulting seasons, the hormonally induced process of shedding their old plumage. Harvesting the feathers and down from the live animal at the moment of moulting is a technique which has in former times been also applied for the purpose of landscape conservation. In order to avoid that a flock of, say, 100 mother geese shed their old feathers and down and that these fly around the landscape and entangle themselves in bushes, trees, buildings etc., the farmers were requested to contribute to the landscape conservation by collecting the loosely attached material. The animals are an important resource for the farmers. To treat this resource properly means to secure their income in the future. Cruelty to animals does not mean a secure income in the long run.
 
Federngewinnung

Can the final consumer prevent geese from possible suffering by purchasing quilts filled with other filling material than down and feathers?

Everyone can buy the quilt as one pleases. However, if you decide not to purchase a down quilt, it will not have an effect on the down supply. Unavoidably, down is a by-product of the meat production. If poultrymeat continues to be most popular with the consumers, the down supply will remain unchanged. The remaining down would be thrown away and the demand and the prices of the resources for the production of other filling materials would probably increase.
 
Everyone can buy the quilt as one pleases. However, if you decide not to purchase a down quilt, it will not have an effect on the down supply. Unavoidably, down is a by-product of the meat production. If poultrymeat continues to be most popular with the consumers, the down supply will remain unchanged. The remaining down would be thrown away and the demand and the prices of the resources for the production of other filling materials would probably increase.
 
Federngewinnung

If he wants to - how can the final consumer when purchasing a quilt ensure that the down and feathers were not harvested from the live animals?

 
He cannot recognize it by the finished product. However, as a rule down and feathers harvested from the live animal are much more expensive (huger personnel expenditures, larger down, huger expenditures as regards logistics) than the material deriving from the animal after slaughtering anyway. This amounts to ca. 98% of the total supply.
 
He cannot recognize it by the finished product. However, as a rule down and feathers harvested from the live animal are much more expensive (huger personnel expenditures, larger down, huger expenditures as regards logistics) than the material deriving from the animal after slaughtering anyway. This amounts to ca. 98% of the total supply.
Federngewinnung

Would a boycott of down products have an effect on the supply?

 
Under the present circumstances, the effect on the quantities supplied would probably be neglectable. However, by challenging the origin of the material, the final consumer can achieve that he obtains more precise information on how the down and feathers were collected. 
 
 
Under the present circumstances, the effect on the quantities supplied would probably be neglectable. However, by challenging the origin of the material, the final consumer can achieve that he obtains more precise information on how the down and feathers were collected.