My grandmother was making quilts and pillows when she was young. I honestly dont know what bird feathers she was using but they would exit sometimes through stiches, white and sometimes gray. She bought fabric for filling on large quantitie and did it herself. Fabric was silky shiny, thick, cold on touch and strong. That is still in house of my family and each year i visit them im trying to get it for myself and got denied. And im still "angry" at my mom that she trashed ours in '90 because she discovered she is allergic to feathers. But my god best ever to sleep!