{"id":6226,"date":"2011-04-04T06:00:28","date_gmt":"2011-04-04T06:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturemoms.com\/blog\/?p=6226"},"modified":"2020-01-12T12:15:41","modified_gmt":"2020-01-12T12:15:41","slug":"the-low-down-on-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturemoms.com\/blog\/2011\/04\/04\/the-low-down-on-down\/","title":{"rendered":"The Low-Down on Down"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>From Sheila Sundberg of StylishHome.com<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing feels better on a cold winter night than curling up under a down comforter, and resting your head on a\u00a0down-filled pillow. It\u2019s luxurious, lightweight and oh-so warm. Down is the soft layer under the feathers from\u00a0the chests of ducks and geese. It\u2019s natural, sustainable and renewable, and using it means you can turn down the\u00a0thermostat at night, thus consuming less energy. However, because it\u2019s derived from animals, it\u2019s not without\u00a0controversy.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of debate over the use of down for bedding material, and many animal rights groups feel it should be\u00a0banned. However, there are ways to ensure that the choice you make is right for you and your family. If you love\u00a0down and wouldn\u2019t dream of sleeping under anything else, learn what to look for. Understanding the process can\u00a0help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

How It\u2019s Harvested Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

True, bird feathers are natural. It\u2019s how they\u2019re harvested that can be a problem. It\u2019s important to only buy items\u00a0made with down that was harvested after the bird was slaughtered in the production of food. This ensures that\u00a0the bird was not killed simply for its down. Some manufacturers will use the term \u201chand-harvesting,\u201d or \u201clive\u00a0plucking,\u201d to imply that their process is more humane because the bird wasn\u2019t killed. Ripping the feathers from a\u00a0live bird is not a humane alternative. There\u2019s no conceivable way of doing this painlessly, so don\u2019t be fooled.<\/p>\n

How Can You Tell?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, manufacturers of down products don\u2019t routinely slap on tags saying, \u201cWe didn\u2019t pluck these birds\u00a0while they were still alive,\u201d so it\u2019s tricky finding out what products you can feel good about buying. Here are a few\u00a0guidelines to follow:<\/p>\n