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Don, I feel like I have the opposite going on. I seem to hatch super nice males, females tend to lack hackle coloring and shanks are too lightly feathered (IMO). Most DO have good size (pullets).
It makes sense, what you say about the broad chest/wide back-length of back opening up the tail.
Yes, I have to admit that some of the female are a little short on color, but was trying for size. I have some very nice type Marans pullets. I culled the one complete hatch from December 176 BC, that was a major set back. I have not had any white in any hatch since that one. I used different males for the later hatches. The early 176 were all out of one male and do not have any of that left.
To be honest the foot feathering has not been a major priority as yet, after it is set in stone what it should be will concentrate more on foot feathering. I do not think it will be a major factor as for showing.