|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The best down comes from eider ducks and muscovy ducks. Goose down dominates the bulk of the down market.
The quality of down feathers is measured by "fill power", which is inverse density. Bird down far outperforms synthetic fill and it's biodegradable.
Fill power (inches3/ounce)
Eider duck down 1200
Goose down, highest quality 900
Goose down, high quality 800
Goose down, average quality 550
Typical synthetic 500
Small feathers 300
A nest can be harvested halfway through the incubation period, with 1 goose producing 21 grams of high-quality down. It can be harvested again after the young have departed for another 21 grams of lower-quality down.
The best down is eider down, and nest-harvested eider down commands a high price.
Eider down price = 2200 $/kg Yield of down from one nest = .021 kg/duck/year World eider down production = 4000 kg/year Iceland production fraction = .85 Canada production fraction = .12
Goose down with a 700 fill power costs 120 $/kg.
Down comes primarily from farmed geese and ducks.
Produce Value Population Killed Mass World mass
Bkg/yr B$/yr B B/yr kg Bkg
Down .12 6.8 - - - -
Goose, farmed 3.2 4 .2 .84 4.5 .9
Goose, wild - - .02 - 4 .08
Duck, farmed 5.5 7 .9 3.7 1.5 1.4
Duck, wild - - .1 - 1.2 .12
Chicken, farmed 90 128 24 65 2 48
Turkey farmed 5.5 7 .22 .62 7.3 1.6
Swan, wild - - .002 - 11 .022
Most of the down that is produced is live plucked instead of harvested from moult. When buying down-filled goods, take care to check the source of the down.
Population in millions:
Duck total 100 Goose total 20 Swan total 2 Mallard 19 Canadian goose 6 Mute swan .6 Long-tailed duck 6.5 Snow goose 6 Tundra swan .3 Northern shoveler 5.8 Cackling goose 1.1 Black swan .3 Northern pintail 5.4 Greylag goose 1.05 Whooper swan .18 Gadwall 3.5 Magpie goose 1.0 Eider 3.5 Brant goose .56 Goldeneye 3.4 Cotton pygmy goose .4 Eurasian wigeon 3.0 Emperor goose .085 Tufted duck 2.8 Swan goose .08 Garganey 2.7 Pochard 2.4
 |
|---|