Tail feather: how long

[Goosemaster]

I just looked at a few feathers in a jar. If you measure a plucked feather it looks like you're adding up to 3 inches on some feathers and most around 2 inches. So it's a big difference if the feather is still in the bird(mounted) or plucked and sitting in a jar.

You measure a plucked feather,on a board. Tack it down.

 

[Pheasants & a Lab]

I did not read all the posts so apologize if this is repeated or off beat. For those wanting to mount a bird and know the feather length, I have measured hundreds over the years before I pulled them as that was how we chased birds in WI back when wild birds were more abundant. PUSH a yard stick as far as you can up the back side of the tail, and most will be 1/16 inches longer, 1/8 max when pulled out. I miss having all the small farms to hunt and chasing individual birds with nice tails that you new were there. Either way, mounted or not, remembering the scene and the dog that got it for us makes for fond memories. Sorry if off topic.