Goose feather is softer than duck feather and also less stalks protrude through. FILLING: 75% white goose feather and 25% soft DOWN to provide "warmth without weight" and gives the duvet that sumptuous cozy feel. The higher the down content the more luxurious the duvet is.

Sometimes referred to as a comforter (especially in the United States), a duvet is a type of bedding that is a soft flat bag filled with down, feathers, wool, or a synthetic alternative. It is protected with a removable cover, the duvet cover.

Feather and down products are generally filled with down from either geese or ducks. ... Geese are larger birds than ducks and generally have bigger down clusters. Their filaments are therefore able to trap more air and provide more insulation. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the down cluster, the warmer the duvet.

The biggest difference between goose down and duck down only comes into play when you start looking at fill power, the measure of how puffy (and thus warm) a given amount of down is. ... And geese, being larger than ducks, are the only birds that produce sufficiently large plumules for high-end down.

The feathers on geese or ducks are the outer covering of the bird. They have quills, repel water, and make it possible for the animal to fly. Down lies beneath this protective covering – usually on the belly of a bird - and is light and fluffy. It provides the insulation birds need to keep warm.

Fillings made from natural fibres such as duck or goose feather and down, wool, silk or cotton are seen as the luxury choice as they are soft, light and comfortable and offer the best quality of sleep.

The moral of this story is that a duvet does not last for ever. It should be changed as often as a mattress - every 10 years or so. Care If you change the covers weekly and use a top sheet, a duvet will, barring accidents, need to be washed annually.

Well, according to Wikipedia, both go on top of your bed, but a duvet actually "covers a comforter like a big pillowcase." Many comforters are filled with a synthetic fiber. They are generally printed or dyed and do not need a cover. When it gets dirty, you wash the whole thing

You can fluff your comforter in the dryer, just as you would a pillow. Longevity: Because it doesn't have to support weight the way pillows and mattresses do, your comforter should last 15 to 25 years if you keep it covered and air it regularly.

Dry the comforter in an XL capacity dryer on low. This may take a few hours but will ensure that all the down is completely dry to prevent mold growth. 5. You might want to add a few tennis balls to the dryer to help fluff the down as it dries.

“If you have a plain-old, inexpensive polyester pillow, you should be replacing it every six months,” says Michael Breus, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of the book Good Night. “But if you have a memory foam pillow or any one with structural integrity, it'll last you anywhere from 18 to 36 months

Still, the practice of live-plucking ducks and geese does reportedly live on at factory farms in countries such as China, Poland and in feather powerhouse Hungary, where PETA estimates that 50 percent of down and 40 to 45 percent of feathers have been live-plucked by experienced “rippers” who are paid piece-rate.

Since birds like ducks and geese are bred in large groups for the production of meat and foie gras, "harvesting" their feathers is a profitable by-product. Feathers are usually removed during the natural moulting cycle of the bird, which is the time when they shed their old feathers and grow new ones, every 6-7 weeks.