Goose Down Feathers

Down refers to the undercoating of waterfowl, including goose, duck or swan, consisting of light fluffy filaments (barbs) growing from a quill point but without a quill shaft. Goose down is larger, yet lighter than duck down making it the down of preference. Down is soft and three-dimensional, used to hold air at high altitudes
and low temperatures with a minimum of weight.

Feather refers to the external horny structure that forms the body covering of birds and consists of a quill point, quill shaft and vanes, with or without an aftershaft. Duck or goose feathers are hard and heavy and are used for flying and swimming.

Many things affect the quality of a down product. Generally, the best down comes from larger, more mature birds. When age and maturity are equal, goose down is better than duck down. However, down from a mature duck is better than down from an immature goose. Down from immature birds not only tends to have poor lofting ability, it also tends to collapse in a relatively short time, because its fibers are so fragile. A duvet made with a mature down will be warmer, lighter and puffier. It will last much longer than one made with immature down.

What makes down such a good insulator?

Each ounce of high quality down has about 2 million fluffy filaments that interlock and overlap to form a protective layer of still air that keeps warmth in and cold out. It is these tiny pockets of air trapped by the down fibers that actually do the insulating. The more mature the down, the greater number of air pockets there are for more efficient insulating. Loft is directly related to insulating power. Because of its resilience, you can scrunch down up or flatten it out, and all it takes is a good shake for it to fluff up and bounce back.

Down gives approximately three times the warmth per ounce as synthetics. Far less down is needed by weight than other fillings, which means a much lighter, but warmer product. Synthetics mat and clump together in time, leaving empty cold spots, while down continually relofts, and molds itself to the body. Down also has the marvelous ability to breathe and wick away perspiration.

How does one judge quality?

Does color have any relationship to quality? Color does not affect the quality of a down at all. White down is generally preferred because it can be put into light colored coverings without showing through. Eiderdown, for instance, is dark brown. Again, quality is determined mainly by the maturity of the bird.

Does climate affect the quality of down? Climate doesn't affect the quality of the down, but it will affect quantity. A bird in cold weather will not grow bigger down to stay warm; it will simply grow more down to stay warm. Quality itself depends on the maturity of the bird.

How are down and feathers processed? Down and feathers are carefully washed with special processes, rinsed, dried and then separated into different grades by blowing. This is done in a separator consisting of several large bins. The largest feathers, which are the heaviest fall into the first bins, followed by medium, then small feathers. The large, mature down is next, followed lastly by the immature downs. The careful cleaning and grading process must be properly done, in order to permanently elimintate odors, and to ensure permanent lofting of the down.

Why do down products vary so much in price? You may find a wide range of pricing for down products. There are many factors which affect the quality, and therefore the price. An inexpensive product will be filled with immature down, which will provide little warmth, and will most likely collapse after relatively little use. Shortcuts in the cleaning and processing will have been taken, and this will often lead to odor problems. The Down Association of Canada has also found that a substantial number of inexpensive offshore products have contained high percentages of feathers, rather than down as promised on the label. Workmanship and design are generally inferior on cheap products. Overall, a "bargain" is usually a waste of money. A quality product will certainly cost more, but it will be warm and cozy and last for many years. Something that costs more but lasts 10 times as long is a better value.

When cared for properly, a high quality down will last for generations. Down Association of Canada members have recovered down duvets, several decades old, with fillings which were still in very good condition.

Won't down and feathers cause allergies?

Concern about allergies to down is a bit of an old wives tale. True allergies to down and feather are quite rare.
Most people who believe they are allergic to down or feather are actually allergic to dust mites. We know people who were told they were allergic to down and feather who have been using modern down products for many years with no problems.

High quality downs are put through rigorous cleaning processes which finish with special treatments to insure the down is hypoallergenic. People are usually allergic to dust mites rather than to either down or feather. Using a mite proof pillow protector on new or newly cleaned pillows will eliminate most of these problems.
to permanently elimintate odors, and to ensure permanent lofting of the down.