Years ago I actually bought & raised a rooster & hen (grizzly-ish) in my backyard for months. I thought the necks & saddles might be OK to use for tying. After I made the coop, fed 'em & raised 'em all that time, I probably could have bought some #1 Metz capes for less money. Turns out the cock got his head stuck in the chicken wire & died, after ruining all of his neck feathers trying to get unstuck. The hen died a few weeks later (lonely, I guess). But she did lay some pretty good brown eggs a few times a week..... True story... By the way, the feathers were good for nothing but wets anyway...
For a real challenge, try ice fishing with dry flies.