Jun 06
curiosity asked:
Are the animals killed for this? Is it a cruel and painful process? Do they farm the animals just for this? Should I boycott down duvets because of it?
Are the animals killed for this? Is it a cruel and painful process? Do they farm the animals just for this? Should I boycott down duvets because of it?
June 9th, 2008 at 4:12 am
In all likelihood the down is collected from animals that are killed for the purpose of being used as food. Whether the process is cruel and or painful probably depends alot on where the down is procured from. Some places have laws which require animals be put down humanely. In other places anything goes.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I know people who collect the feathers from nests of birds that flock around their private pond. I’m not sure how much they collect, but they do it after the young are safely gone from nests. I’m sure that most commercial down is from animals that have been slaughtered for food.
You should boycott products like this if you feel that strongly about it. Just be sure you read all of the facts and find out if alternatives do not do the same practices or worse. For instance, I have friends who won’t wear leather shoes, but they wear shoes made of products that use oil for their mass production.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:34 am
down – specialised *feathers from waterfowl (mostly ducks and geese) which are very soft and have superior thermal insulating properties. Duck down is generally obtained from slaughtered birds (factory farmed indoors for meat). Geese may be painfully live plucked – especially goose down produced in Eastern European countries – and the geese may also be used in the production of *pate de foie gras. Used in luxury quilts, pillows and outdoor padded jackets, clothing and sleeping bags.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:44 am
To be honest, any process that kills animals isn’t very humane. The egg industry crams four or five chickens into a small cage where they are forced to lay one or two eggs a day. Chickens raised for KFC, you should google that.
Yes, birds are raised and killed for their down, but that is after they’re (hopefully) dead. As for boycotting, that’s your decision.