Feather Quality 

by Alan Makin

Ever since I have been a fancier of the Jacobin I have heard remarks and quotations regarding "The Feather".

My personal beliefs and observations are that to produce the correct profile of a Champion Jacobin the Hood, Mane and Chain feather should be quality feathers. By quality, I mean feathers with strength, length and width which will allow the feather to stand erect, be carried and form the rose. This along with the long neck required to carry such feathers in the formation of the Hood, Mane and Chain give us the correct profile we all like in a good Jacobin.

The spindly, weak, hairy feather is not wanted and does not allow the feather carriage and causes gaps, shingling etc. When this happens it takes away the required outlook of the profile of a top Champion Jacobin.

I have also found that the whites and dilute colours are more susceptible to these faults.

By correct and better matings of the breeding pairs in future this fault may be eliminated.