"Guy Thornberg" wrote in message
...
Thanks Mike,
These are barnyard stock chickens (I think). My friend and former neighbor
is a pharmacist who purchased some acreage 30 miles further out. I will
ask
him about hens when I go get the cocks next week. He won't part with his
other four mature cocks who have established their flocks (and have
beautiful plumage). I will also take along some genetic feathers and maybe
"plant an idea". As for the goats and geese, I will email you a couple
photos of the animals he has next week. Maybe he will part with some other
good stuff for a few bags of chicken scratch.


Plant some of these instead! Get him to raise some for you.The eggs are not
that expensive, and you may achieve some very very good results, as these
birds are already extremely selected.

http://www.theriaultflies.com/chickenhackle.html

One can use lots of different feathers. It is not essential to have highly
selected ( "Genetic") stock for many things, and one can get some very good
hackle. I still have a fair number of bantam cock capes which are first
class in every respect. These only cost me the work involved in preparing
them, and a couple of seatrout to the owner! I have tied thousands of flies
from them in the meantime, and will tie thousands more.

Most birds moult at least once a year. The geese feathers form a single
moult will last you a long time. Normally, you merely need to wash and sort
them. One may use these feathers for lots of things.

One may even collect moulted cock hackles, but this can be a mess about.

TL
MC