Down feather production from ducks and geese ranges from live-plucking, which causes severe suffering, to post-slaughter collection of certified origin.
Live-plucking of waterfowl causes acute pain and distress as feathers are pulled from living birds. Birds show fear responses and struggle during plucking. Even birds plucked in higher-welfare countries undergo regular plucking throughout their lives. Down from birds slaughtered for meat represents a welfare improvement over live-plucked sources. Synthetic alternatives eliminate animal welfare concerns entirely.