"Guy Thornberg" wrote in message
...
Question regarding cock feathers.

Went to my friend's daughter's B-day yesterday. Havn't been to their home
in
the country for a couple of years. He has chickens for eggs and said he
only
needs 1 cock per 9 hens leaving him with 4 unwanted cocks. Two Rhode
Island
Reds, one mix and ???. Capes and saddles interesting. these cocks are
about
10 months old. Feathers look good. So... we skin the cocks, scrape fat
from
inside skin, tack on board, rub with anti-freeze, let dry, clean
feathers...
(Didn't ask him about his geese & goats)

Or my question:
Is it worth it? (for the experience & feathers)
Or, should I just go buy feathers at my local fly shop?

I would appreciate your thoughts and experiences with obtaing your own fur
and feathers form the "wild".
Guy
(Still no bugs on guysflies)(should have some soon)



Yes it is often worth it. Whether it is worth it in this specific case,
depends on the feathers. Those birds are rather young. Most people would
take feathers of three years old or more, where the birds are in full
plumage. Selected ( "genetic") and soem other stock may be culled at an
earlier stage.One can use practically any feathers for quite a lot of
things. Whether they will be good dry fly hackles is unlikely, although one
can get lucky here.

It is definitely worth it for the experience.Whether you do it again, or
even
often, depends on your opportunities and preferences.

If you can, get some hen capes, ( especially mix colours), these are
generally even more useful.

Goose feathers are also very useful, as is good goat hair.

The following may be of some assistance;

http://www.sexyloops.com/connorsmetre/grayling5.shtml

Check the index upper left for articles on preparing materials.


TL
MC