Indeed to can become "Quail" patterned Silkies you need to start from "grey" Silkies (these have not the pattern gene "Pg") :
"Quail" patterned chickens need also the melanisation gene "Ml" which is present in (what I call) "BlackSilvers" :
Knowing the genetic background and the working of...
Two generations back when the restrictor & melanizer were still impure (the darkening was already to be seen) the chicks showed still the chipmunk pattern as you can see here :
You have to know that a columbian restrictor make the chick pattern look darker (no more chipmunk pattern and (almost) no more head pattern :
* a melanizer is said to not darken the chick pattern coloration but in my case it did (look that chick above) I am not sure if it's a dominant or a...
The Blue Silver (in this case the rooster) look as this one :
(keep in mind he have a columbian restrictor in him)
The Silver "Quail" chicks look as this one in the first week :
(in this chick is a combination of a columbian restrictor and a melanizer at work)
As you can see on the photos...
does your roosters also have those long "tuft-peaks" (as you can see here on the photo) ?
they are white in the silver versions and contrast very well with the black center of the tuft.
I have them also in blue (but here comes in easy "autosomale red") and in my opinion the contrast in coulor is less.
yes the body patterns are similar by a columbian restrictor that pushes the black away (yours have even more black in the neck), the concentration of black in mine (which...
It can't be denied this is just a pet quality and will stay as that.
For the breeding eventually yes, with the right selection every generation.
When you want to arrive to high quality do yourself a favor and start at a higher level.