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Frequently Asked Questions
PRODUCT COMPARISON CHARTS
Compare product specifications at-a-glance, like fill type, thread count, loft and more!
See our standard product dimensions here or on each product page.
DOWN & FEATHER
The short answer is yes! All of the down and feather we use is by-product of the meat industry that would otherwise go to the landfill. We have zero tolerance for the inhumane treatment of animals, including live-plucking, force-feeding, overcrowding, and neglect.
Read on for more details about how we verify that all of our raw materials meet our standards.
IDFL Down Standard
IDFL’s Traceability Audit System involves rigorous audits and inspections of the entire supply chain, from parent farm to the end retailer, conducted to assess adherence to the requirements of the IDFL Down Standard. Obtainment of the IDS Certification verifies that down and feather products are ethically sourced and traceable through the supply chain to the parent farm.
For a product to be considered ethically sourced, animals must be treated humanely. Live-harvesting, live-plucking, molt-harvesting, force-feeding, over-crowding, neglect and abuse are strictly prohibited. People must be given a safe, clean place to work with well-maintained facilities, and must be paid fairly, given adequate time off and breaks, and must meet the minimum legal age of employment. Suppliers must be aware of their environmental impact and demonstrate a commitment to reducing their climatic footprint.
Canadian Down & Feather Company has passed IDFL’s Traceability Audit and was the first company in Canada to be both IDS and RDS Certified.
CDFC’s suppliers have also recently been audited and certified, and products will soon bear the IDS Certification Logo.
Responsible Down Standard
IDFL is also approved to audit for and issue the Responsible Down Standard Certification, which verifies the humane rearing and handling of animals in the down and feather supply chain. Animals must be treated with respect and must not be subject to unnecessary harm, including live- plucking, molt-harvesting and force-feeding. Products may only be RDS Certified if they contain 100% RDS Certified material, traceable through the chain of custody.
Canadian Down & Feather Company is RDS Certified and products will soon bear the RDS Certification logo.
Look and Feel
Down is the soft undercoating of geese and ducks. It consists of clusters of light, fluffy filaments growing from a central quill point.
Feathers are the outer growth of birds. Feathers consist of a hard quill shaft (or stem) with a series of fibres extending from each side.
Loft
Loft is a measure of the fluffiness of down and is also a great indicator of its overall quality. The loft measurement is not used for feather.
Duvet Warmth and Weight
Down is the best insulator per ounce over any other fill, natural or man-made. Down provides much more warmth per ounce than feathers. For this reason, feather duvets contain significantly more fill and are heavier than down duvets. They require more fill to achieve the same level of insulation and warmth.
Pillow Support
Down provides minimal head and neck support in pillows. Pillows containing feather provide more resilient support and firmness due to the springy feather quills/stems.
Scarcity and Price
Down is more expensive than feathers. Due to its luxurious feel and excellent insulating properties, down is more prized than feathers by consumers. Down is also scarcer – each bird yields much more feather than it does down.
Loft is a far more important measure of quality than species. The higher the loft, the higher the quality of the down.
If goose down and duck down have the same loft, they are essentially the same quality. Both species of down can be sourced in low and high lofts.
There are two main differences between duck and goose down to consider. Duck down has a greater tendency to have an odour if exposed to moisture. This tendency is even higher for lower loft duck down. Duck down is also less expensive than goose down. It's important to us to offer duck down products as lower cost options, especially since they can be just as cozy, luxurious and long-lasting.
Read more about goose vs duck here.
Compare the species for all products at a glance here.
Yes they are!
All of the fill we use is rendered hypoallergenic through the cleaning process, which removes allergens like dust, pollen and bacteria.
It's recommended to use a duvet cover or pillow protector at all times to avoid the buildup of allergens over time!
Read more about allergies here.
Loft is a measure of the fluffiness of down. Higher loft means down is fluffier, higher quality and warmer per ounce.
A duvet with higher loft down is NOT warmer than a duvet with lower loft down. We adjust the weights of our duvets to account for differences in loft. The warmth of a duvet is rated using the following categories (from least warm to most warm): Summer, Regular, All Season, Winter.
Read more about loft here: Loft
Hutterite colonies are self-sufficient communities, many of which are located in the Canadian prairies. Hutterite-raised geese and ducks provide high quality feather and down. Since the Hutterites raise their geese and ducks as a primary source of food, they do not use growth hormones nor over-feed their livestock, but allow these birds to grow to full maturity as they are free to roam in the open landscape of the Northwestern prairies. The down and feather yielded by these birds is therefore exceptionally loftier, longer and fuller.
Hutterite down is world-renowned as one of the highest quality fills available.
According to Canadian Government labelling regulations, down products must contain at least 75% down content to be labelled as a "down" product. It is illegal to state that a product is "All Down," Pure Down," "100% Down," or anything else of the sort. Down & Feather blends will range from 95% down to 5% Down. The higher the down percentage, the more expensive it usually is, given other quality factors remain the same. We use different combinations of down & feather to achieve desired levels of comfort and price.
Learn more about content claims for down and feather products.
The colour of Down & Feather ranges from very white to almost black. Generally though, the majority of the down and feather available is off white or dark grey and the colour depends on the exact species of bird the Down & Feather originated from. Some common names for darker Down and Feather are "silver," and "grey."
Colour does not affect the quality, including warmth and insulating properties, of down and/or feather. In fact, some of the best qualities of Down & Feather are only available in a darker colour. However, most people still prefer white fill because of the fact that it does not show through and darken a light coloured duvet cover.
Due solely to supply and demand factors, there is a premium for duvets and pillows containing such fill. In a case where a consumer knows that they will not be using a translucent covering, they may want to consider the darker colour for cost savings.
It is important to note that even white down and feather may contain a few darker coloured pieces! Much like the hair on our heads, there can be some natural variation!
SHELLS
Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch of the fabric. The total number of threads in a square inch is calculated by adding the threads running right and left (weft) and the threads running up and down (warp).
For Down and Feather products, it is essential to have a shell and/or covering made of fabric that is at least 233 Thread Count or 233 threads per square inch. Thread counts lower than this may allow the down and/or feather to leak or escape from the product. This would create a mess and reduce the comfort and insulating properties of the product.
In the market today, Down and Feather products have thread counts that start around 200 and go as high as 800. There are a few different benefits to having higher thread count. These may include softer, smoother fabric and less noise from the shell. However, lower thread count products are not worse than higher thread count products and will last just as long. Even though higher thread counts are not directly felt by the consumer once placed inside a cover, the softness can be noticed through high quality covers. Higher thread count products will be more expensive, but the shell is usually not the most significant factor in determining price and quality.
Read more about thread count here: Thread Count
Duvets are created with different types of construction, including box and channel. Box construction usually divides the duvet into equal size squares, trapping down and/or feather in each of the boxes, preventing it from moving from one area to another. Sizes of squares vary depending on the particular manufacturer.
Box Construction is preferred to channel as it keeps the down and/or feather evenly distributed throughout the duvet. Without this, the duvet would have areas with little or no fill, leaving an area without insulation for heat to escape.
Sizes of boxes range from about 5" to as much as 20" in the length of one or both of the sides. Smaller boxes prevent down from lofting to its full potential and not trapping as much air. This proves to be less beneficial for insulating purposes. Larger may boxes may not be adequate either as they allow the down to shift within the box, perhaps leaving areas without insulation. Ideal size boxes range from about 150 - 225 sq. in. or 12" x 12" to 15" x 15".
Whether duvets have boxes or channels, they are either sewn directly through from the top fabric to the bottom, or sewn with Baffles. A Baffle is a piece of fabric sewn in a perpendicular manner between the top and bottom fabric of the shell, similar to a wall, between compartments, creating a three-dimensional space.
Baffles and the resulting three-dimensional space allow down the room to loft up to its maximum potential. This in turn traps more air, providing better insulation and more warmth.
Between compartments without baffles, where the top and bottom fabrics are sewn together, there is not a lot of room for down. There is therefore a region without insulation, creating a "cold spot." With a baffle construction, down is able to fill the compartments on both sides of each wall, leaving no area for heat to escape.
DUVETS
Our dimensions are as follows:
Twin - 64" x 86"
Double - 78" x 86"
XL King - 110" x 100"
Queen - 88" x 90"
XL Queen - 96" x 98"
King - 102" x 90"
You can find dimensions for all products on our Standard Dimensions page.
You can also find dimensions on each product page by clicking on the 'Dimensions & Fill Weights' link.
We specialize in manufacturing down and feather products. Although this remains our specialty, we have launched duvet covers as of November 18, 2022! These covers are designed to fit our duvets precisely.
We understand that you may prefer a colour or style that we don't offer, and your can shop elsewhere for covers as you see fit. There are still plenty of options on the market that can work with our products .Most department stores and major online retailers carry duvet covers.
You duvet cover can be 1-2" larger or smaller on all sides than your duvet. For example, if you purchase a Queen duvet, which is 88" x 90", your cover can be as small as 82" x 86" or as large as 92" x 94".
All of our duvets are made with corner loops, so they pair wonderfully with duvet covers with corner ties, which affix the duvet in place.
Our Warmth Ratings
Our duvets come in a variety of weights, or warmth ratings. From least warm to most warm, they are:
Summer Weight, Regular Weight, All Season Weight and Winter Weight.
Summer Weight has the least amount of fill, so it is the least warm. Winter Weight has the most amount of fill, so it is the most warm.
You can find the exact difference in ounces on the product page by clicking the 'Dimensions & Fill Weights' link.
Recommended Room Temperature
Summer Weight is best for warmer room temperatures (22°C or above), or for hot sleepers.
Regular Weight is best for moderate/regular room temperatures (around 19-21°C), or for those who feel warm when they sleep.
All Season Weight is great for cooler room temperatures (around 16-18°C) or for those who feel a bit chilly when they sleep.
Winter Weight is best for cold room temperatures (15°C or below), or for those looking for a very warm duvet.
You can find the recommended temperature ranges for each weight in the product description on the product page.
You can compare products at a glance on this handy chart!
The main differences lie in:
- Type of Fill: Duvets might be filled with down, feather, or microfiber (polyester). Difference between feather & down.
- Down Quality: The higher the loft, the higher the down quality- Fabric Softness: The higher the thread count of the shell, the softer and less noisy it will be.
If you're looking for a heavier-style duvet, take a look at the White Goose Feather Duvet, Microfiber Down Alternative Duvet or Gel Microfiber Down Alternative Duvet.(These 3 duvets are our heaviest and are all the exact same weight!)
Duvets filled with feather or microfiber are much heavier than duvets filled with down. This is because feather and microfiber are not very good insulators. We require a lot of fill to achieve the desired warmth. Down is a very good insulator. Just a little bit of down fill goes a long way in providing the warmth we're looking for!
PILLOWS
Pillows should be replaced every 3 years or so, if they are kept in a clean environment and used with pillow protectors at all times. If pillows are kept in a dusty or dirty environment or are not used with pillow protectors, they may need replacing sooner. The reason for replacing pillows is for health and cleanliness. Down and feather pillows are quite resilient - they keep their shape, re-lofting abilities and performance level for many, many years.
You can compare products at a glance on this handy chart!
The main differences lie in:
Type of Fill
Pillows might be filled with:
Down - Down is made up of tiny, fluffy clusters and is not able to provide much support in pillows. Down pillows are very soft, sinky and malleable in nature. Even the Firm version of down pillows are quite puffy and fluffy, but compress down with the weight of the head.
Feather - Feathers have springy quills, so they provide great, resilient support in pillows. Feather pillows are hefty, firm and supportive. While they have more 'give' than foam or latex pillows, they keep the head much more elevated and supported than down-filled pillows.
Combination of Down and Feather (Down Perfect™) - Down Perfect™ Pillows feature a feather core, which makes up most of the pillow's fill. The feather core provides resilient support. The feather core is surrounded by a layer of soft down, which creates a buffer against the feather quills. This combination of support and luxurious feel is what makes our Down Perfect™ Pillows so popular!
Microfiber (Polyester) - Microfiber is soft polyester made up of very thin strands. A piece of Microfiber looks something like a pulled apart cotton ball. Microfiber is soft and plush, but denser than down, so it doesn't compress quite as much with the weight of the head. Microfiber provides a bit more support than down, but not as much as feather.
Down Quality
The higher the loft, the higher the down quality.
Fabric Softness
The higher the thread count of the shell, the softer and less noisy it will be.
Finding the right pillow can be very tricky, and it can vary based on personal preference and body size!
As a general guideline:
Side Sleepers tend to need a lot of support in order to keep the head elevated and aligned .
Most side sleepers prefer Feather pillow - Medium or Firm; Down Perfect™ Pillow - Medium or Firm.
Back Sleepers or Combination Sleepers tend to prefer moderate support. Back sleepers or those who sleep in multiple positions may prefer Feather pillow - Soft or Medium; Down Perfect™ Pillow - Medium; Down pillow - Medium or Firm Gel Microfiber; Down Alternative Pillow - Medium
Front Sleepers usually need a flatter-style, softer pillow that doesn't prop the head up too much or restrict breathing. Front sleepers tend to prefer Feather pillow - Soft; Down pillow - Soft or Medium Microfiber Down Alternative Pillow - Soft
CARE
Products filled with down and feather should not be washed at home. Down and feather are very sensitive to moisture. If any moisture is left inside the product, mold, mildew and other bacteria can develop. Besides, most home machines are too small for bulky bedding products, which can cause additional wear and tear on the fabric!
Microfiber Down Alternative Products
Products filled with microfiber can be washed and dried at home in large machines on a low heat setting.
You can find detailed care instructions for your product by visiting the product page and clicking 'Care'. Care instructions are also written on your product packaging.
Please note that caring for your product improperly may result in invalidation of the warranty.
SHIPPING
Shipping to North America (Canada, USA & Mexico) is FREE! :)
You will find expedited shipping options available in the cart for a fee, if that suits you. (Please note that even if you pay for expedited shipping, we do require 1-2 business days to prepare and pack the product before it ships!)
International shipping is calculated at checkout.
All goods are shipped from Canada. Duties, taxes, or other import fees may be collected upon delivery to USA or any other country outside of Canada. Residents of USA or Mexico, if you are charged any additional fees upon delivery, please contact us for reimbursement.
We ship on a best effort basis. While not guaranteed, most shipments will arrive within the timelines posted below.
Please note that if you pay for expedited shipping, the product won't leave our warehouse immediately. We do require 1-2 business days to prepare and pack the product before it ships :)
Canada
British Columbia: 6-8 business days
All Other Provinces: 4-7 business days
Territories: 14-20 business days
U.S.A.
48 Contiguous States: 10-14 business days
AK & HI: 14-20 business days
Tracking information may not be displayed while the shipment is in transit from Toronto to the United States.
Mexico
6 - 10 business days.
Tracking information may not be displayed while the shipment is in transit from Toronto to Mexico.
RETURNS
You can return any unused product within 30 days for a full refund. We'll even cover the return shipping cost! :)
Please ensure you meet the following criteria to be eligible for a refund:
Your product must be purchased at www.canadiandownandfeather.com. You must be located in Canada or the USA. Your item must be unused, unwashed and in original condition. (You can take the product out of the packaging and give it a feel - no problem! The product will be considered used if you've slept with it. If your product has been used, we may be able to customize it to make it more suitable for you. Click here for more info.)You must have received the item less than 30 days ago.
How does it work?
If you’d like to return your purchase, fill out the Return Request Form here. Our customer service team will email you with a prepaid return label. Put the product back in its original packaging and parcel it up in a cardboard box. You can use the original box, or a box of similar size. Affix the prepaid return label to the box and drop it off with the carrier indicated on the label within 7 days of receiving the label.4 days after we receive your return, we'll do a quick inspection of the product to make sure it's in original condition and we’ll process your refund (including shipping fees!) to the original form of payment. Please remember that it can take a few business days for the funds to appear in your account. If you purchased pillows on our Buy One Get One 50% Off sale, see special terms and conditions.
Why can’t I try my product before returning?
Used bedding, even if slept with only for one night, is no longer sellable and ends up in the landfill. Our aim is to provide a positive customer experience while mitigating our environmental impact. Our preference is to encourage conscientious consumption and work with customers who share our values. What we do offer:
- free returns for unused product
- alterations for used product
- warranties against manufacturing defects
- robust product information and buying guides to help you with your selection
- personalized service to help match you with the best option for your needs
If you’d like to return your purchase, fill out the Return Request Form here.
Our customer service team will email you with a prepaid return label.
Put the product back in its original packaging and parcel it up in a cardboard box. You can use the original box, or a box of similar size.
Affix the prepaid return label to the box and drop it off with the carrier indicated on the label within 7 days of receiving the label.
To protect our staff against the spread of illness, all returns will remain unopened for 3 days after we receive them. We will process returns the first business day after this 3 day period. We really appreciate your understanding and patience as we take these precautions. After 3 days, we'll do a quick inspection of the product to make sure it's in original condition and we’ll process your refund (including shipping fees!) to the original form of payment. Please remember that it can take a few business days for the funds to appear in your account.
SALES & PROMOTIONS
We do have sales and promotions from time to time! Please sign up for our newsletter here and we'll let you know as soon as the next sale starts. (Our subscribers often get an exclusive discount too!) You can always unsubscribe if you no longer want the email updates.
WARRANTY
Absolutely! All of our products come with a guarantee against manufacturing defect.
How long is my product covered for?
The length of the warranty period varies by product. You can find them all listed here, or you can check the product description on the product page. The warranty period is also listed on your product packaging.
What is considered a manufacturing defect?
A product defect caused by the manufacturer (that's us!) is covered under warranty. Examples of manufacturing defects may include stitching that comes apart, or a significant amount of leakage. Issues caused by the customer like normal wear and tear, down shifting with use, spills, or rips are not covered under warranty.
We also cannot cover products under warranty that have not been cared for properly.
Each product comes with a warranty card on the inside of the packaging. Please fill it out and mail it back to us, or fill out the details here