Hackle feathers are the neck feathers right? Well I have 4 orpington roosters. One is splash, one blue, and 2 black. The blue and black each have hackle feathers that are either red, or yellow (that blend in with the black, but very noticeable). It's nice because I can tell them apart, but when I look up images on google for black orpingtons roos, they are completely one solid color. My hens don't have different colored hackles. How could I get rid of the red and yellow colors to get a solid color when breeding? These guys are breeding with my hens and I have not hatched any out yet this year, but will in the spring. Will a roo with a solid black hen hatch out better hackles??? I wish I knew more about this....