Back when I was in grade school, my friend's father had a farm with beautiful roosters with long brown hackles on them that were absolutely perfect for big Atlantic Salmon dry flies just running around the yard. We used to put the chickens head under its wing and then rock it back and forth which put it to sleep, then bring head back out, snip off what we wanted for the afternoon /evening tying, then leave. The father never missed a few hackles, but one day we needed a few extras and the poor thing was almost bald by the time "daddy" got home.

Needless to say we had to be careful after that.........so we wouldn't get caught borrowing feathers.