Feather Identifier app iconFeather Identifier
Domestic Chicken (or general waterfowl/poultry down feather)
Down feather (plumulaceous insulation feather)

Domestic Chicken (or general waterfowl/poultry down feather)

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae, Genus: Gallus, Species: Gallus gallus, Subspecies: Gallus gallus domesticus

Family: Phasianidae (Pheasants, Partridges, and Fowls) / Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Shape
Amorphous, loose, brush-like, and highly symmetrical without a stiff structured vane.
Size
Small down feather, approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.3 cm) in length, fitting easily between fingers.
Rarity
Very Common
Learn more about Domestic Chicken (or general waterfowl/poultry down feather) in the encyclopedia →

Found a feather like this?

Identify any feather from a photo, free.

Identify a feather

Description

A classic down feather characterized by soft, completely unlinked barbs that trap still air to provide thermal insulation. Found under outer body feathers of poultry like chickens or waterfowl like ducks and geese.

Colour & Pattern

Uniform off-white to pale cream with slight translucent or grayish tones near the basal calamus.

Barb Structure

Entirely plumulaceous (fluffy) barb structure lacking interlocking hooklets (barbicels), resulting in a soft, unstructured, insulating cloud of barbs.

Texture & Surface

Extremely soft, light, airy, and fluffy to the touch with matte surface reflection.

Key Features

Pure fluffy plumulaceous structure, lack of a stiff pennaceous vane, small size, off-white color, flexible quill base.

Habitat

Agricultural farms, backyards, coops, and domesticated environments worldwide.

Geographic Range

Global distribution due to widespread domestication and farming practices.

Ecological Role

In domestic and wild birds, down provides critical thermal insulation to maintain body heat in cold temperatures and protects skin during incubation.

Similar Species

Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), Domestic Goose (Anser anser domesticus), or wild waterfowl down feathers.

Interesting Facts

Down feathers lack tiny hooks (barbicels) that lock regular feathers together, creating millions of tiny air pockets that make them one of the natural world's best thermal insulators.

Condition Notes

Fair to good condition; slightly disheveled with minor dust particles trapped within the delicate barbs from handling.