Harvesting eiderdown dates back to the 9th century when the first settlers arrived in Iceland. Here are some stories of eiderdown farmers.

Near the end of the nesting period, we carefully by hand collect down from each nest and replace it with a generous amount of dry hay. The eider ducks are familiar with these visits and do not feel …

Eiderdown harvesters, some of whom are second or third-generation collectors, collect the down from the abandoned nests after the birds have left for the season.

Oct 2, 2018 · The men fished and farmed, and the ‘eider wives’, as they were called, were responsible for tending to the ducks and gathering the down.

In a practice that dates back to the Vikings, islanders coax wild eider ducks to nest on their islands, where the birds leave behind eiderdown—a material so precious that even kings and...

May 1, 2025 · Unlike industrially farmed down, eiderdown collection does not require factory farming or artificial breeding. The process is carried out by local communities, supporting sustainable livelihoods …

Mar 1, 2018 · For centuries, perhaps millennia, people and birds have interacted with each other. The tradition of eiderdown harvesting from this northern duck is still practised. In earlier times, collecting …

In a practice that dates back to the Vikings, islanders coax wild eider ducks to nest on their islands, where the birds leave behind eiderdown—a material so precious that even kings and queens of …

At Lånan, we have been collecting eider down since the 19th century, and this tradition has been proudly passed on from generation to generation. We build nests for the eider ducks and protect …

Jun 24, 2020 · The farmers collect the eiderdown from each nest by hand - a process that takes several days. It requires the down from 50-70 nests just to fill a single-sized duvet!