Melanie Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 It's time to buy a new duvet as we've had our present one for absolutely donkey's years and it's definitely seen better days. I thought that a goose down one might be nice and light but am worried that the birds may not have been raised in an acceptable way. Ikea state online that the feathers and down used in their duvets have not come from living birds but I would also want to know about the conditions that the birds are raised in. Ikea told me today that their duvets are made in China but that there was no-one there today in Customer Services who could answer my questions. Does anyone know of a company that produces a duvet with goose down from free range birds which aren't alive when the down is plucked? (I assume it has to be plucked and doesn't just fall out naturally? I'm a bit naive) If I can't find one, I'll DEFINITELY buy a synthetic one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Sorry Melanie I don't know where you could find one - I would do a google for one. I do know that some countries produce the down by plucking constantly from live birds and I've always bought synthetic because of that. Edit: I just found an organic search engine! www.alotoforganics.co.uk You might find one on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Sorry Melanie I don't know where you could find one - I would do a google for one. I do know that some countries produce the down by plucking constantly from live birds and I've always bought synthetic because of that. Edit: I just found an organic search engine! www.alotoforganics.co.uk You might find one on here. That is awful, I never knew that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 I've never ever even considered about duvets! I certainly will from now on! Thanks for the post Melanie! Good call! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 I've never ever even considered about duvets! I certainly will from now on! Thanks for the post Melanie! Good call! Same here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Try these people: www.greenfibres.co.uk Not sure about camel hair filled duvets, but they seem to be pretty green and devoid of animal cruelty. I didn't know until now that there are issues regarding feather and down collection, but I found an article on the internet, and Lesley is correct in saying they pluck from live birds, probably caged as well . One company I found had silk filled duvets, I thought silkworms were boiled alive to unwrap their cocoons I wonder what happens to all the feathers from free ranging birds then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I noticed the camel hair duvets on Greenfibres as well - I thought camels smelled horrible? Silkworms are boiled alive - and another way the silk industry has found around people knowing this is to call their product 'spun silk polyester ' which is silk made to resemble spun polyester. some of the synthetics are by-products of the petro chemical industry - you can't win!!!! I think we'll be collecting the sheeps fleeces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Hey, Lesley, there's another idea for your farm. A camel or 2 (to go with the giraffes ), then you can shear them and supply camel hair to the ethical duvet business And of course if the car ever breaks down there's another form of transport. I bet they don't have too many people heading off to the Farmers Market on a camel Back on to a serious note though I'd never really thought about the ethics of feather or down filled duvets and pillows either, and it does sound like a fairly horrific industry plucking live poultry. That said hubby is very allergic to feathers, so we always take the synthetic option. Looking at the prices of the camel hair alternatives I'll be sticking with synthetic too...... they're not exactly cheap are they Although if they're durable I guess that they work out as competitive over the long term . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 hhhhmmmmm.....a couple of camels - I'll run it past Carl - who is still outside sorting out chicken poo trays, water for the ducks, hay for the sheep and cows, cleaning out the rabbits............ when what he is supposed to be doing is writing a database Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Why not go for a synthetic??? We have always used them because....this'll make you laugh... I'm allergic to chicken feathers!!....they give me asthma. I once had to be admitted to hospital....blue light job...and it turned out it was my feather pillow causing the prob. Anyway....synthetics are easier to keep clean and are lighter (and usually cheaper!) Good luck with your quest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I don't have a problem buying something made as a by product of an industry we cannot currently do without, so synthetic is fine by me. I dread to think what they would do with the leftovers if they hadn't found out how to spin synthetic fibres (they make fleeces out of oil by products too don't they?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I have synthetics as well - I'm also allergic to feathers Fleeces are made from recycled plastic drinks bottles - but they are originally made from .......... Like I said, we can't win I can't do without my petro-chemical by products either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I noticed the camel hair duvets on Greenfibres as well - I thought camels smelled horrible? In Lanzarote I went on a camel ride and they didn't smell too bad, despite there being hunreds of them. I bet they're washed and scented though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Must say i wouldnt fancy sleeping under a camel hair duvet at all We recently bought a new synthetic duvet and its lovely to snuggle under And of course if the car ever breaks down there's another form of transport. I bet they don't have too many people heading off to the Farmers Market on a camel How much would you have to pay to park a camel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 In Stratford? - both arms and both legs, same as usual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 In Stratford? - both arms and both legs, same as usual The parking situation in Stratford is awful. It's impossible to get good parking spot near the town centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Fancy an old town, built before the advent of cars and buses have town centre parking issues...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 In Stratford? - both arms and both legs, same as usual The parking situation in Stratford is awful. It's impossible to get good parking spot near the town centre. You can if you know where they are - but it is still best to go and park at 7.30 in the morning, take your breakfast to eat in the car, get your running shoes on, wait for the shops to open and only then put a ticket on your windscreen - you have precisely 30 minutes And, yes, I have done that - walking with the aid of a stick, it's the only way, and that only works if the ticket machine you parked near is actually working and you don't have to walk to the next one - in which case, you might as well go home (or to Solihull ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Fancy an old town, built before the advent of cars and buses have town centre parking issues...... Most of the problem is down to the planners though - everything is done for tourists - never mind that people still need to park somewhere if they are to work looking after all these tourists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Feather and down duvets are a lot warmer and more comfortable, but I get synthetic ones because they are easier to launder. I've got a king sized one on my double bed so there are no cold spots at the edges - all to my self - snuggly huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Oooohhh! You decadent girl! I just sausage roll myself in the duvet and steal it slowly and stealthily throughout the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Phil does that when he stays at the weekend, what with him and the fat kitten taking up most of the bed, I have a cold botty hanging out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 The OH says im a duvet stealer too but that is just not the case at all!! :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Why do they all say that? We cured that problem when we bought a Superking size bed - we each have our own duvet and one big cover over the top of that which holds everything together -separate duvets, same bed - best of both worlds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Sounds like a good idea to me Lesley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
