Do ducks/geese die when their feathers are taken for pillows? Or do the feathers grow back?

Answer 1

They are removed after death when they are killed for food!

Answer 2

No, they won't die. The feathers will regrow back in short time. Also plucking if done properly doesn't hurt the geese or ducks as long as their skin are not pulled out.

Actually, there is a season that ducks or geese feathers fall off naturally and grow another set of feathers. Plucking off their feathers to make pillows for instance doesn't mean plucking off the entire feathers. Just some part of feathers are chosen mostly those soft ones.

You see, plucking off all its feathers would mean you are taking off the animals main protection from environmental hazards - most importantly from cool or hot weathers, and the risk of getting injured and harmed by different ways. Unless the animal had been butchered, then ALL the feathers can be plucked off.

I had actually done plucking off some feathers of a duck. That was long ago though, as I remember it was for an elementary school project ...HAND FAN, I think.

Anyway, visit this link to read more about duck or geese feather plucking:
http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/periodicals/bittersweet/sp74b.htm

Answer 3

IF they were plucked, the feathers would grow back but feathers taken for pillows are taken from animals already slaughtered for consumption.

Answer 4

Most feathers used for these applications come from birds that have been butchered for meat. However, eiderdown (from eider ducks) is collected from the nests of the ducks. The eider pluck their own feathers to line their nests, and some of these feathers are collected and sold. All other forms of down are collected from dead birds.

Answer 5

Most people are correct in that typically the feathers are plucked only out of those birds that are soon to be on your dinner table.

However, it is NOT true that the birds have to be dead in order to pluck their feathers. A bird's feather is very closely related to a mammal's hair. Just as humans' hairs are constantly shed and regrown, so are birds' feathers. So, one can pluck feathers and have them regrow -- but just as human hair hurts to pull out before it is ready to be shed, so does birds' feathers.

Answer 6

Iet's put it this way they ain't over keen on the idea and no they don't grow back. Neither do the ducks or geese come to that.

Answer 7

Never really thought about it while snuggled up with all my duck feather pillows and quilt, no doubt tonight I WILL HAVE NIGHTMARES.

Answer 8

No they are not plucked alive. It would hurt & the feathers not grow back.
The birds have died to provide your dinner and pillow.

Answer 9

its not like getting a haircut, these birds are killed for food, and the feathers are a by product of meat production.

Answer 10

Are you kidding?

They can't take all of the feathers without killing them.

Answer 11

get out of disneyland people. they are plucked alive. and they cry out in pain, because it hurts them. they are not killed first, they experience pain.