Realize that those hens are still pretty big and the feathers are really pretty big for lots of soft hackles. Many game birds have much smaller feathers and even the tiny head feathers are very useful. The head feathers on hens are not nearly as small. Size 14 is about the "ordinary" size of soft hackle I tie and the head feathers are often just right...

Quote Originally Posted by mcfish View Post
Check the Whiting website, or the Feather Merchant website that carries his extensive line. He has several capes /necks of hens that are bred for soft hackles, and some that are designed to replace some upland birds.