PURPOSE: Fether lumps are passed through an opener and crushed, cut or torn into barbs or vanes, whereby feathers, which cannot be used for filling of mats are changed into downs or vanes.

CONSTITUTION: Lumps of feather are, when necessary, opened, then crushed, cut or torn by passing them through an opener into barbs or vanes. Then, the product is preferably passed through a cyclon where quills and thick rachises are separated off. Or after crushed with an opener, feathers are made into fine pieces again with an opener, before or after quills and thick rachises are removed with a cyclon. Thus, feathers are torn into single barbs 1, plural barbs 2, vanes like small feathers 2' and quills and thick rachises 3, 3' and they are separated into each fraction.