Red Silkie Project

[MumsyII]

You could try again with some red sussex hens, that could increase the size of your silkies if they are small to medium in size. otherwise I would use a buff silkie boy, a really dark buff if possible, it might help since the colours are more similar

No sussex or buff silkies to be had within sixty miles of where I live unfortunately. I do have a buff/blue silkie male I was going to try. 50/50 both colors. He has great silkie type and I was hoping to give the second generation a boost start towards better silkie type by using him and hoping if I hatch a large number of chicks, maybe red would pop out. Or...If I cross these paint half breed chicks to recessive white the red will pop? I would get some recessive white chicks too but the recessive red would show as well in some way. The easiest way to have done this first cross would have been using a BRIR male on recessive silkie hens but I don't have one. Only red hens.

I'm trying to introduce mahogany red onto my silkies, not buff. They are different gene combinations. At least I know these paint half breed chicks are split to mahogany red. Pulling it out in the next generation is going to be the trick. Test breeding is the only way I know how to do that. If I could get my hands on a good black silkie male, that would maybe help. Or maybe that would just give me more paint chicks? *gah!*