SCG,

First thing I'd check is to make sure you have a smooth thread base for wrapping the hackle; uneven or bumpy will make it difficult to get a neat wrap. Do you have any pics of flies you've tied with the hackle? Any pics of an individual hackle to see if it's excessively cupped? I've got a few capes with cupped hackle (I picked them up at bargain prices, maybe $10 each) that aren't the easiest to work with, but, with a little coaxing, will produce acceptable flies.

Regards,
Scott