Down for duvets

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I'd like to make some duvets but I have a few questions, If anyone can help ? 1. I would choose duck over goose as I hate raising geese, is there a difference in the quality? Are there any particular breeds that are better than others? 2. How many birds to make one say double duvet? 3. I read to place the feathers in a pillow case and hang on the line to air out etc, any other beginning prep work/cleaning needed? 4. I have chickens and turkeys is there any reason not to use feathers from these?

Thanks for any help.

-- TerriYeomans (terri@tallships.ca), August 12, 2000

Answers

I gotta bite! What is a "duvet"? Hope it's not like a "henway"! GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 12, 2000.

A duvet is like a comforter or fluffy quilt. Don't know about feathers but I've read you can use washed wool, if you have sheep.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), August 12, 2000.

I always thought the duvet was the removeable cover on a comforter to keep it clean as you would use a pillow case. It's much easier to wash than a down comforter. Ours is queen size and even with special soap to wash down, it's a pain. It won't fit in the washer and I did it in the bathtub. When that down comforter is wet, it weighs a ton and is next to impossible to get thoroughly rinsed.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), August 12, 2000.

OK, thanks for the education! Duck down is as good as goose down in most applications, and the very finest down comes from a sea duck, the eider. Chickens and turkeys will not do, although chopped feathers make the absolute best pillows. The feathers are too heavy, though, to make a good comforter etc, and will not maintain their "fluff" and therefore the miniscule air spaces that insulate. I cannot help being reminded of the old saw "How do you get down off an elephant?" And the answer "You don't get down off an elephant, you get down off a duck!" GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 13, 2000.

Oh, Brad! You stole my joke! I heard that one when I was a kid and I didn't get it until I was 30 years old!

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), August 16, 2000.


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