h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This really is a rather dumb question, I'm aware of it, but it came to my mind a few nights ago while trying to shut out the unearthly sounds someone was making in front of my appartment, and it's been bothering me ever since. (This is no joke. There was someone barking, howling like a dog, laughing like a madman, at 3.15. am. I was too scared stiff to even take a look outside, so I had to think some distracting thoughts.) So here it comes:
How do you manufacture blankets/cushions/anoraks etc. filled with real feathers? More specifically: How do you get the feathers off the birds? You must need huge quantities of them! Do they employ hundreds of former farmgirls to pluck the animals? Do they shave them? Is there some Wallace-and-Gromit like automated plucking machine?
OK, I told you it's not one of the most urgent issues, but if there's some pillow manufacturer/farmer/ poultry specialist out there - please tell me!

These people are known as pheasant pluckers, I believe.

Unfortunately the answer is rather mundane - they just pass the dead bird through a jet of super-hot steam and the feathers just fall out.

Uaah! I'm sorry I asked...

If you think thats urgh you may not want to read the rest of this.

The old fashioned way.
Hang the carcass from a tree and the pull the feathers out by hand.
It has to be done outside as feathers go everywhere.

or goto your ocal hobby store either around the corner or on the internet and buy some. The stock these kinds of items.

Local hobby stores should carry this item. if not I do have a source for live chicken. Ive been wanting to have a barbecue.