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I work in a flyshop year round, and the feathers that flyfisherman use (saddles and capes that is) are from a special genetically engineered strain of birds that are not found any where but in the fly shops for sale. These are special grade feathers that work for tying flies. This is what makes them so thin. The breeders of these birds, only breed for feather quality for fly tying. The average barnyard chicken or even the birds bred to standard, don't produce this quality of feather, wich makes 98% of the flyfisherman (desperate as they are) unable to use the feathers plucked from showbirds or barnyard birds. The best breeders of the fly tying or super thin feathers refuse to sell thier feathers to the salons and are starting to numer the ones being sold to the flyshops due to the reputaion of the birds, breeders, genes and thier original purpose. Although this does not mean the gals at the salons arn't buying out all the fly shops and/or people they can find with these feathers for top price.
Just as my own opinion, I believe the person stealing feathers would have been from a salon or someone try to make a quick buck by selling the feathers to a salon.
