Some of this post is controversial, but I wanted to bring it to your attention so you can make your own 'informed' desision on hand-harvested goose down.

Some people say it is better, others say avoid it! What do I say?

Well, read on and find out...

Firstly, when I see people trying to pawn off goose down products and 'claim' that they are of such great quality, that's one thing, good luck to them and all I can say is "Buyer Beware!" Make sure you know the source of the supplier before you purchase any goose down product.

Now, I don't normally go on rants like this one I am starting, but it gets me upset when people go and directly post a blatant 'bash' so they can sound knowledgeable in an attempt to sell their 'mass produced' down filled drop-ship items...

Here, let me explain, because right now you are probably thinking, "What in the heck are you babbling about Darren?"

Well, it all started this week when...

My factory over ran a shipment of high quality goose down comforters, featherbeds and pillows for some beautiful winter lodges in our area. So, I decided that I would entertain the idea of putting the overstock goose down items on eBay and really blow them out fast.

As I am relatively new to the eBay selling thing, I wanted to see what others were doing and I went on to read various descriptions that were posted in a 'Down Comforters' section of eBay.

I saw this one comforter listed and what upsets me, is when people put descriptions up trying to talk like they know all the ins and outs of the goose down industry, but end up confusing the buyer even more.

This particular goose down comforter was totally endorsing 'hand-harvested' goose down, which if you know me at all, I am 110% against hand-harvesting!

The listing I am talking about made the following blatant statements (and I quote):

"Filled with luxurious hand-harvested Hungarian white goose down."
{my comments: Were the birds ALIVE?}

"LFGD does not kill their birds for down and feather."
{my comments: Ok, previous question answered, then what do you do with the birds when they are bald?}

"LFGD company uses only large cluster hand harvested down and feather without any injury (proven by the veterinary and hygiene institute) to their birds."
{my comments: How do you not injure something when you pluck it ALIVE? This is total B**l S**t and a RED FLAG to stay away}

"Their down is not a by-product of the food industry."
{my comments: Obviously, we established that when you balded out the goose and set him free again without his protective coating}

Let me make something very clear here:

There are only a small handful of 'big' players in the goose down industry. We are all a pretty tight niche group of business people... Kind of like the internet marketing guru's of this day and age.

Hand-Harvesting Goose (and Duck) down is highly, highly frowned upon in our goose down industry group. For someone to splash the quotes I listed above on the internet and try to win over the un-educated consumer is what upsets me.

Not only is hand-harvested goose down frowned upon, it is actually banned in most countries around the world.

Why, you ask?

Well, hand harvesting was (and still is according to this particular eBay seller) a method used to collect goose down in various parts of the world. This method involves taking live geese & ducks (yes, I said LIVE) and then pulling the feathers and down off of them by hand (ala the name 'hand-harvested goose down')

Does hand-harvesting hurt the live goose or duck?

YES, absolutely it does! How would you like having the hair pulled out of your head, or worse yet, your fingernails pulled out while you were being restrained?

Ya, I didn't think you would like it... Neither would I!

Some years ago already, a video was released that an amateur videographer shot over in Hungary (or Poland – I can't quite remember) of this 'live hand harvesting' of goose down. It was pretty graphic in nature and showed the poor geese walking around bald and some actually with blood showing... Urrrrggg, just the thought of it, really pisses me off that someone could do that to a goose!

Now, if you have been a long time member of my site, or if you have just come to know me, you will know that Northern Goose is the only Federally licensed goose processing plant in Canada.

It is regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) and also the European Union Directorate General (EU-DG).

Yes, Northern Goose IS a food processing plant. It has been for over 30 years now and we process all of the geese from Western Canada intended for the world food market. All birds are processed in our state of the art, completely hygienic, federal government regulated facility.

The goose down & feathers are moved simultaneously to the feather factory via underground piping. To the best of my knowledge, Northern Goose is the only place in North America (and possibly the world) where goose down is processed with federal government inspectors present every single day to ensure quality and humane treatment.

Another amazing fact about the goose: Not one piece goes to waste.

So yes, the food industry is priority at Northern Goose and the feathers are a by-product, not the other way around.

I am very proud to say that there has never been even one ounce of 'hand-harvested' goose down in the Northern Goose factories.

Northern Goose Down is widely recognized as the #1 goose down around the world!

There are limited quantities of it available each year and when it is gone, it is gone. We do not out source any materials. That is one of the reasons that makes our goose down so valuble.

If you didn't get enough here, I have a lot of great information on my home page at:

http://www.down-feather-bedding.com

Wishing you massive success in your quest for the best night of rest!

Darren Salkeld, President
Northern Goose Down Inc.
Rocan International, Inc.

P.S. About my overstock of high quality goose down items, I am still exploring the eBay thing for now. I will post my decision here in about a week or so of what I decide to do with them. Right now there is a few mountain lodges in the Banff, AB talking to me about getting them... Stay tuned!