American Gamefowl

[roosterhavoc]

It’s still cheaper to buy the capes and saddles already on the market for fly tying. Pretty feathers mean absolutely nothing if the feather twists when wrapping around the hook shank. I culled 16 roosters in one night for it. They’re totally worthless if they twist.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Have you looked at some of the good show quality barred rocks? I used to raise those too. There are modifiers that influence the crispness of the barring. They are beautiful, but maybe the feathering is too soft. I tend to think if creol old English as being a little washed because of their faster feather growth.

They are washed but my barred genetic hens throw clear barring on males.
Well I will see how it goes anyway. Lol

 

[OhZark Biddies]

It’s still cheaper to buy the capes and saddles already on the market for fly tying. Pretty feathers mean absolutely nothing if the feather twists when wrapping around the hook shank. I culled 16 roosters in one night for it. They’re totally worthless if they twist.

So the ‘genetic hackle’ breeders or what have you, they have solved this feather twist thing with longer feathers then? Or am I connecting the wrong dots?

I’m not so sure feather twist is a real thing... I kinda feel like you’re just putting words together

 

[B123]

Yes, barred females carry one allele for barring and good clean barred males carry two, so their barring should be cleaner, crisper and about half white and half black.

 

[roosterhavoc]

So the ‘genetic hackle’ breeders or what have you, they have solved this feather twist thing with longer feathers then? Or am I connecting the wrong dots?

I’m not so sure feather twist is a real thing... I kinda feel like you’re just putting words together

Haha. When you wrap the stem of the feather around the hook it should lay flat and the barbules should stick up to form the hackle. If the stem twists the barbs will go forward, backwards etc.. and get trapped against the shank with each wrap.
There’s only a few people with true genetic hackle. Whiting, Collins, Metz, Howard, and a few others. There’s a couple who still have “good” but not on the same level as say whiting.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Yes, barred females carry one allele for barring and good clean barred males carry two, so their barring should be cleaner, crisper and about half white and half black.

Yep so hopefully I’ll get at least one cleaner barred male to breed. It’s just messing around. I don’t even need anymore feathers. I have enough to last me two lifetimes.

 

[B123]

They are washed but my barred genetic hens throw clear barring on males.
Well I will see how it goes anyway. Lol

It is not just the washing caused by modifiers that turn the pigment on and off, but how fast the feathers grow. Some of the best barred males I raised were ugly slow feathered chicks.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Yes, barred females carry one allele for barring and good clean barred males carry two, so their barring should be cleaner, crisper and about half white and half black.

Edit: think you just answered

What’s the other part that makes it crisp... fast feathering gene maybe?...,

Not sure if fast feathering is even a single gene, etc.... I’m a bit out of date on some of this...

But I recall the difference between cuckoo and barring being something to do with fast feathering.... I think...maybe... pretty sure though... or not.... I feel like I used to know ... or think I knew

 

[roosterhavoc]

What’s interesting is say whiting hackle for example breeds unbelievable and I mean unbelievable feathers. His hen capes have gotten stiffer and stiffer over the years to resemble rooster hackle that came along with the extra feather length.
I have some whiting hen capes from 15 yrs ago and some from recent. The difference is huge.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

What’s interesting is say whiting hackle for example breeds unbelievable and I mean unbelievable feathers. His hen capes have gotten stiffer and stiffer over the years to resemble rooster hackle that came along with the extra feather length.
I have some whiting hen capes from 15 yrs ago and some from recent. The difference is huge.

Do you happen to remember when whiting was selling full rooster taxidermy mounts..., back around the year 2000 or so?

I remember looking at their website back then....

Pretty amazing birds... I’d have to guess on the price ...now but way up there.... they obviously have worked hard to get where they are.