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What is Eiderdown?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Eiderdown is the soft under layers of feathers harvested from the eider duck. The material has been prized historically for use as a warming insulating layer in clothing and bedding, especially in Northern regions, where cold weather necessitates excellent insulators. Although it has largely been replaced with down from other birds, such as geese or artificial products like Primaloft®, there is still a market for it, and high end bedding especially tends to be made with this material. Iceland is one of the world's major producers.

Down is a soft insulating layer of feathers that can be found underneath the larger body feathers of aquatic birds. The external feathers keep water from coming into contact with the skin of waterbirds, while down creates an airy layer of insulation that keeps the body of the bird warm. Eiderdown has remarkable insulating properties, being highly efficient and extremely lightweight. It is also very soft to the touch, without the scratchy quills that are sometimes found in goose down.

Eiderdown may be used as an insulating layer in bedding.
Eiderdown may be used as an insulating layer in bedding.

The eider duck is native to the Northern hemisphere and can be found in many Northern nations. The male of the species is black and white, while the female is colored in shades of brown. Both ducks are very stocky, and have wedge-like bills that are quite distinctive. When the ducks settle down to nest, they pull out their insulating down to line the nest. After abandoning the nest, the feathers are available for harvest.

The under layers of the feathers of eider ducks are used to make eiderdown material.
The under layers of the feathers of eider ducks are used to make eiderdown material.

Not only is eiderdown harvesting not harmful to the birds, it actually helps them. In nations that harvest significant amounts of this material, there are large regions set aside for the ducks to nest in. These protected areas also shelter other wetland species. Eider ducks are not hunted or harassed, and they tend to be rather outgoing and friendly as a result. The painstaking harvest process does make this type of down more expensive than other comparable products, however.

Eiderdown may be used to make soft pillows.
Eiderdown may be used to make soft pillows.

Comforters are classically made with eiderdown, since a large one can get quite heavy when made with other materials. It is also used to make extremely soft pillows and feather beds. Some people may be allergic to down, so they'll need to use a tight, hypo-allergenic wrap and cover for these products, if they wish to use them. Other consumers should also look out for holes that may leak the down, since the lightweight, fluffy material can quickly end up everywhere if it is allowed to escape.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

serenesurface

@burcinc-- As far as I know, the farmers take the down after the eggs are hatched and send it off to cleaning and processing. They don't leave the nest bare of course, they add things like hay so that the chicks remain safe and warm.

And the down farmers of Iceland really care about the eider. They care for them year around and take precautions to protect them from predators and other dangers. Aside from down harvesting time, the eider are left alone and never leave their natural habitat. The down is cleaned and processed and made into comforters, quilts and other products in various countries in the region. Eider are not disturbed in any way.

burcinc

It's really neat that eider ducks use their down to line their nest. Is it to keep the eggs warm so that they hatch?

So, do the farmers wait for the babies to hatch to take the down though? And what happens to the down if left alone. Do the eider females just leave the nest with down in it or do they keep using the nest?

Even if the eider are not harmed, wouldn't taking the down from the nest disturb their egg laying cycle somehow?

ysmina

I have an eiderdown sleeping bag that my uncle got for me when I go camping. I love camping but always complain about being cold, so he thought that this was the perfect sleeping bag for me. It really is a great insulator, even on the coldest nights it keeps me real warm and it's really light and easy to carry.

I also love the fact that there is no animal cruelty involved with this product. I could never get myself to use it if eider ducks were harmed or killed in the process.

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    • Eiderdown may be used as an insulating layer in bedding.
      By: lightpoet
      Eiderdown may be used as an insulating layer in bedding.
    • The under layers of the feathers of eider ducks are used to make eiderdown material.
      By: Kees
      The under layers of the feathers of eider ducks are used to make eiderdown material.
    • Eiderdown may be used to make soft pillows.
      By: MIGUEL GARCIA SAAVED
      Eiderdown may be used to make soft pillows.
    • Iceland is one of the world's major producers of eiderdown.
      By: siimsepp
      Iceland is one of the world's major producers of eiderdown.