Silkie that are 32 ounces (910 grams). Silkie plumage was once unique among chicken breeds, however in recent years silkie feathering has been developed in several breeds, mostly notably the Chabo, where it is now standardised in Britain and the Netherlands. It has been compared to silk, and to fur. The overall result is a soft, fluffy appearance. Their feathers lack functioning barbicels, and are thus similar to down on other birds. This characteristic leaves Silkies unable to fly. Silkies appear in two distinct varieties: bearded and non-bearded. Bearded Silkies have an extra muff of feathers under the beak area that
The Silkie tour was subsequently cancelled. Two further singles released in 1966 failed to make either the UK or the US charts, and in the autumn the original Silkie lineup subsequently split. Mike Ramsden and Sylvie Tatler had married in January 1966, and they subsequently continued to perform as a duo version of The Silkie for a further 35 years (sometimes with their children) and often appeared at their local pub, The Cott Inn at Dartington, Devon. Ramsden also guested as a vocalist on the album "Western Flier", alongside the 20-year-old keyboard player Mike Batt, recorded in 1969 by the proto-psychedelic folk