Down

The structure and appearance of down and feathers are quite different. A down has a soft centre from which all the light fluffy filaments protrude. Feathers have a long and curved quill which makes them resilient in a way, at the same time providing them with the ability to expand back to their original shape after having been exposed to pressure. Thus, in contrast to down feathers are perfectly suited as filling material for pillows as they softly cushion the head at the same time supporting the neck as desired.

 

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.

As stipulated in the European standard EN 13186, duvets with a down content of at least 60% may be labelled as down duvet. Duvets with a down content below 60% are labelled as feather duvets.

 

The appropriate blend depends in particular on the individual need for warmth when asleep. Nowadays, most people usually prefer a high percentage of down.

 

Lightweight down provide best fill power values and a high degree of thermal insulation. With a higher percentage of feathers, the weight of the duvets increases, because feathers are heavier than down.

 

Due to large fill power values down are capable of being able to keep the body warm without much weight, that is to say the bulking capacity.

In the separation process down and feathers are sorted with the aid of air which is blown into a special sorting machine consisting of three or four chambers. The airflow generated in the machine achieves that due to gravity the single components fly different distances. The lightest components fly the longest distance and the heaviest elements fly the shortest distance. Correspondingly, the lightest parts, i. e. the down, fly the longest distance and get into the posterior chamber whereas the heaviest parts, i. e.

The raw down and feathers must be processed before they may be used as filling material for bedding articles.

First of all, the raw down and feathers are cleaned of coarse dirt. Then they are placed in special washing machines and undergo 6 to 8 washing cycles using a specific detergent suitable for bedfeathers.

The term “synthetic down“ is an improper, misleading invention and must not be used in advertisements for bedding products.

 

According to a decision by the Provincial High Court of Appeal in Stuttgart, Germany, it is illegitimate to use the term “synthetic down“ in advertisements for bedding products. The Federal Court did not accept the appeal of the defendant.

The quilt and the filling themselves do not keep the body warm. The feathers and down make sure that the heat of the body does not disappear, i. e. they store the heat.

 

Chicken do not have any down. Only the so-called “waterfowl” provides us with down. Chicken and turkeys which are classified as “landfowl“ do not have any down.