Doing my first turkey, while cleaning a Jake tail, I noticed that it has short and tall quills, yes I know, but it has 5 tall ones in the middle, 5 shorter ones on the right, and 7 shorter on the left side. While trying to fan this out for a standing mount, the longer quills are not centered, or when centered, the left side is whacked. Is this just the way jakes grow up? Should I add feathers, or pull some out? Or live with it. Any Ideas? Thanks.
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I'm sure the bird guys have the actual quill count down pat, but I don't think turkeys are smart enough to count or to concern themselves when the numbers aren't right. I'd seen this on a great many birds. Even mature birds sometimes have odd numbers on a side that I'm sure have been lost during the molt or maybe just flopping around in the treetops. I'd fold one side a little tighter than the other and center the tall feathers.