I have a small pack of hackle that has dried out and because of that the hackle tends to break very easily while tying. I was wondering, can hackle be revived once they have dried out and become brittle?
Hi Tyrone,
I don’t have a cure for your problem but my curiosity has got the better of me. How old is that hackle and how did you store it? I just finished tying some flies with hen hackle I purchased in 1970 and had no problem at all. I’ve also got some some short, select neck hackle that I purchased in 1957 from Herter’s and still use from time to time. Yes both the hackle and tyer are older than dirt. I wonder if the feathers you’re using are just old or were very brittle from the start----a poorly nourished chicken. Good luck with your problem. I’ll be interested to see what other tyers have to say. 8T 
Tyrone,Wrap a hackle in a sheet of damp paper towel and pop into the microwave for a few seconds,or pass the hackle through the steam from a kettle,both of these tricks have worked for Me
G
G-man, thanks for the suggestions. I’ll give the steam treatment a try.
8-thumbs, “old as dirt.” Funny you should mention that. My 8 year old nephew goes around telling his dad (my twin brother) and I that we are as old as dirt all the time.
The hackles are from a freebie sampler pack I got at last year’s ISE show.
Hi again Tyrone,
Who ever was handing out free samples certainly failed to make the impression he wanted. From what you tell me, I believe that the chicken had trouble early on. It probably had genetically brittle hackle or it was missing some vital element in it’s diet. I believe that you would have to expose the hackle to bright sun light or low humidity for a long time to produce that brittle effect that you described. 8T
I think it’s likely the steam will only rehabilitate the barbules not the quill [stem]
The problem may be do to the area of the country you live in. I have had probem’s with hackle quills drying out on me do to the dry climet I live in. (Montana) Granted it was several years after I had stripped them for use. But they would break when I tried to wrap them on the hook. I just soaked them in hot water and had no other problem’s with them. I would suggest you do the same thing. Just soak the hackle in hot water for a few hours and let them dry out and give them a try and see what happen’s. For that matter you can wrap them on the hook while they are wet to. Other than that I know of no way to make them soft unless you get friendly with them and give them a nice rubdown with hand cream. 
LOL Ron
Once hackle has been exposed to sunlight (worst possible thing for hackle) there is nothing you can do to bring it back if it ever was of today’s quality.
The second worst thing I feel you can do to your hackle is to place it in the micro wave.
Read Al’s article for pest control found here on FAOL. Pest strips do work well.
Denny
These last two posts…and of course others…Another example of the quality that occurs on this web site…we’re talking experience…priceless!
Eight Thumbs,
I apologize (sp) for not being clear in my initial thread. I should have been more careful to explain that the hackles were given to me from a very reputable fly tier and online fly source. :oops: He warned me that the packs he was given to hand out were brittle, but I might find some that were salvageable. I took the packs knowning of the defects. When I was going through my materials this weekend I came upon the packs and sorted through them in hopes of finding some good hackle. Given I found a large number of brittle hackle, I thought I would ask here on the BB if they could be revived in hopes of salvaging them.