I am new to tying and looking to purchase some hen hackle for tying flymphs and other wets. What are the real differences I can expect between Metz grade 1 and grade 2 hen hackle. There seems to be plenty of data regarding dry fly hackle grades but not much for hens. Also what differnces will I see buying a cape or a saddle?
Thanks,
Mike
Mike,
I am hoping someone jumps in here soon because I am in the same boat with the same questions.
Mike,
What sizes are you planning to tie?
Nothing against Metz, they make a fine product and I use them, but you may also want to check out Conranch Hackle at www.conranch.com . To be honest I haven’t ordered from them yet, but I’ve been very impressed by the folks on the FAOL BB that always rave about his product, his service, and his willingness to talk on the phone to make sure you get exactly ehat you are looking for.
Denny and his daughter Liz sell complete sets (both cape AND saddle) of their adult hens for $30, and JV Hens sets (which have feathers that tie down to smaller sizes that look like they would be perfect for soft hackles, flymphs etc.). The JV hens sets go for $20 which seems like a great bargain. (As I understand it they don’t trim the sets, so you get a lot of “extra” feathers you may find useful too.) As a comparison, I think the last hen cape (cape only)I bought was a Whiting for $17, and I think the saddles go for around $8. The feathers were fine for winging dries, and hackling wets in larger sizes (some 14s, lots of 12s and up) but not as useful for smaller nymphs and wets.
As far as your original question is concerned, I think you’ll find that the capes will offer a greater size range of feathers than the saddles and more smaller sized feathers. Adult hen saddles will mostly have feathers in a narrow range of larger sizes.
Other options for hackling flymphs are partridge etc.
Hope this helps.
peregrines
Mike and Rookie,
I’ll just chime in and second that suggestion about Conranch Hackle. Since I tried their hackle (Dry fly and hen hackle) I haven’t looked elsewhere. A lot of bang for your buck.
Give Denny a call and let him know what you want the hackle for and he won’t steer you wrong. He also won’t sell you something you don’t need just to make a buck. Great folks to do business with.
REE
I would definitely invest in a very good Partridge Skin.
Doug
I have been using Conranch JV hen for my Spiders(softhackles) for a few years now. They are always my first choice. Superb hackles and service. 
Have a look at my site, lots of hen softhackled flies.
I am also interested in this topic and anxiously await the replies. I use hen hackle for tying wet flies, and frankly, I don’t like paying more than $10 for a neck. You need to aquire a lot of different colors. Paying $20-$30 dollars for each neck in all the colors you need would get ridiculously expensive. When I first started tying wet flies, I found plenty of good necks for under $10. That doesn’t seem to be the case any more.
Now hackle grading is more about feather length and damage.
I love Whiting Farm’s Hebert Hen Capes they are $16 per cape and $8 per saddle and are wonderful. They come in a full range of sizes many down to #20’s. They are not the best for dry fly wings because many have pointed tips, but they wrap like a pro. They also come in alot of great colors that many brands can not even touch.
Joe Fox
My guess I will need feathers to tie size 12-16 mostly…maybe some 10’s maybe some 18’s and 20’s. I already have some partridge but I want ot branch out into hen hackle. What sizes should I expect to be able to tie with a Metz #1 hen cape? Right now on I can get capes for $12.40 from hook and hackle…but if it doesn’t tie the sizes I need it is not worth it.
I don’t know about the Metz hen hackles, but I just purchased a Whiting Coq de Leon hen cape and hen saddle. The saddle looks to be good for tying size 10 and larger. The neck for size 10 and smaller. They are both retail grade. The saddle is silver speckled and the cape is brown speckled. I like the saddle better, as the feathers are broader and more rounded at the tip. They seem to have a greater amount of marabou like webbing which will need to be stripped off. The cape has a darker center to the feather (like furnace hackle). I have an ORVIS KEOUGH hen neck (brown) which is much smaller than the Whiting one. Overall size of the bird is smaller. It would be good if you could do a hands on comparison.
You will get more feathers in the #1 compared to the #2. They may be a litlle longer and you might be able to find smaller sizes in the #1 grade. A long feather help when hackling thru the thorax for some types of Flymphs. Size wise you can expect to get sizes 6 to 18 maybe 20.
Hebert and whiting capes (especially Whiting) will tie down to size 20 and even smaller.
I have heard of many good reports on Conranch hen capes.
As far as prices go you really get what you pay for. The Hebert capes are nicer than the Metz and the Whitings offer more hackle than either of the other 2. Whiting is fairly stiff at the ends of the feathers. Metz and Hebert have the same stiffness.
gadabout,
When I first started tying wet flies, I found plenty of good necks for under $10. That doesn’t seem to be the case any more.
Just as a matter of interest, when (year) did you start tying wet flies? :?:
Cheers,
Hans W
Hah! I knew someone would ask that. I’d say probably 5 or 6 years ago. I know prices can be expected to increase a bit in that time, but I think they have doubled.
chuckle
Followup question: Do you find the quality of the hackle, as also the number of usable feathers on these necks has remained at same level, or perhaps improved?
Cheers,
Hans W
Gadabout, the cheap hen necks usually came from India and as the news has told us, the bird 'flu has been rife for the last year or so, thus a shortage will cause a rise in price. 
I dunno, a lot of my “cheap hen necks” came in a Metz package. Is Metz in India?
Metz Hen capes are very cheap and no not Indian.
Joe Fox
I have no doubt you know where Mets is based.
Over here, the cheapest hen or cockerel necks were from India, I can’t say I ever saw any cheaper with Metz name on them. I don’t suppose they export their really cheap ones.
coltranem - Metz #2 hen necks are just fine for all of your wet fly/soft hackle needs. Tie down to #22. Plenty of feathers for the price. Been buying them for years. Metz doesn’t offer the color selection of the others, but you can dye the grizzlies to suit your needs. I doubt that the Metz #1’s have longer stems. Who needs long stems when you only use a turn or two on a fly anyway? Both necks feature soft, webby fibers. I believe that the #2’s are the best buy in hen hackle today. Never saw the need to buy a whole chicken skin.
I don’t think there’s enough attention paid to the quality of the quills…at least it’s not discussed all that much when comparing “brands”.