Live Harvesting Goose Down - Finally an Update

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my grandmother used to pluck her geese several times during the spring and summer months. she saved the down from the under wings separate from the the breast areas that had feathers come of with the down. She taught my mother to sew the feathers that were mixed with down in a towel. You just cut the holes from the towels and make whatever size pillow you get from the towels. the loops on the towels go on the inside she said, and catch the quills on the feathers to keep them from getting out of the pillow.
 
My favorite goose down garment is a vest. It's perfect for when it is cold outside but sleeves would get wet or dirty. It's also perfect for those days when a full coat is too warm and a sweatshirt isn't warm enough.
 
Do you have a post on how to look after the geese? Type of shelter or natural feed or supplements?
 
Hi,

My grandmother also used to harvest feathers from her geese. She made comforters and pillows and sold any extra she had. I would like to harvest the feathers from my Embdem. Thanks for your helpful posts on live harvesting! However, I have a few more questions. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away many years ago so I can't ask her.

I tried pulling feathers off the chest of my geese but wasn't successful. I will try around molting time next year. Is it only in August? Do they molt in the Spring, too?

Thanks,
Marshykat
 
I was so glad to read your post! I am trying to start a flock of geese to harvest the down. So far all I have gotten is the feathers. I never thought of just harvesting under the wings! Do you just harvest once a year? I thought they molted twice a year.

Thanks so much for all the great information!
 
marshykat said:
Hi,

My grandmother also used to harvest feathers from her geese. She made comforters and pillows and sold any extra she had. I would like to harvest the feathers from my Embdem. Thanks for your helpful posts on live harvesting! However, I have a few more questions. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away many years ago so I can't ask her.

I tried pulling feathers off the chest of my geese but wasn't successful. I will try around molting time next year. Is it only in August? Do they molt in the Spring, too?

Thanks,
Marshykat
Click to expand...

They will start blowing that downy undercoating of feathers in the spring...this sloughs off on the abdomen to give eggs a closer contact with the heat from their bodies and is also used to line the nests. Then they molt a less quality molting of feathers in August to make room for their winter down and feather growth before cold weather hits. I'd rather have that spring down...it will be more abundant and softer, more built for keeping one warm.
 

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