At one time, only royalty were allowed to have coats/robes made
from the fur of the chinchilla. It was, and still is, the softest fur
known to man. As time passed, it began to become a demand
from the rich, often being a 'status symbol'. Because of the value
and the demand, in the years past, most chinchilla breeding was
done strictly for the fur, with a few, it still is. Regardless of how
we may like or dislike the idea, if it were not for the fur market,
there would be no chinchillas alive today, for us to enjoy as pets ...
they would be extinct.
Chinchillas were well on their way to becoming extinct in the
1920s, when Mr. M.F. Chapman, with help from some of the
natives, spent two years catching 13 chinchillas. Due to trading
issues between the two countries, he then, had to transport them
through other countries, before they could be put on a ship and
brought to the United States.
Because of the value put on the furs, chinchilla ranchers had to
maintain the high quality of the fur and the health of the
chinchillas, if they were to stay in business. The chinchillas had
to be kept at their best, by the ranchers that wanted to stay in
business. One way of assuring the quality, was competition. This
is where the chinchilla shows came in, and still do.
When the shows first came about, and for many years, there
was only the competition of the Standard Gray (the original color
of all chinchillas) and then the Gunning Black, often called black
or black velvet. There was only 1st and 2nd place and honorable
mention back then, not the table full of trophies we have today.
Now, that we have so many different colors, called mutations,
the shows include the basic 7 colors with the varying shades of
each color. They are also divided into age groups, within each
color group to make the judging fair for all chinchillas
participating.
The colors jugged/accepted at the sponsored shows at this time
are:
1) White, which includes: the pink white, white mosaic, silver
tipped white, and white with dark guard hairs
2) Sapphire, which includes: light, dark and medium shades.
3) Violet, which includes: the 3 different shades and the violet
wrap.
4) Beige, which includes: the 3 different shades and the tan wrap.
5) Naturalle, which is commonly known as the Standard Gray
and it's different shades of gray.
6) Black, also know as the Gunning Black, or the Black Velvet.
7) Charcoal/Ebony and the varying shades of it.
Another way chinchillas dividing them, is into the two major
groups, one group has white bellies and the other group, with the
wrap-around color, which should have the same color distributed
evenly all over the entire chinchilla. The exception to this rule is
with the hetro ebony, being a mixture of grays and black fur all
over and with no white.
The chinchilla is relatively new to the pet market, when
compared to the well known cat, dog or bird. Even now, when I
talk about my chinchillas, more times than not, I am ask "What's
that?" or "What do they look like?" Chinchillas are also more well
known in some parts of the country than they are in others.
Instead of all the breeders being big ranchers with hundreds
and sometimes thousands of chinchillas, we now have the
"newbie" chinchilla breeders of 'pet' chinchillas, with less than 100
chinchillas and/or less than 10 to 15 years of experience. When
breeding is done indiscriminately you are hurting the chances of
future chinchillas by weakening the genes. Experience teaches
much, but not everything. If you have chinchillas and they are in
a breeding situation, but you are using bad breeding practices,
you should not be breeding at all, leave it up to the professionals
or start learning. By-the-way, the definition of a "breeding
situation" is any time you put two or more chinchillas together in a
cage or a play area that are not of the same sex. It only takes the
male chinchilla 15 seconds to get the female pregnant!
We have much to learn before we can put ourselves and our
chins in a category as being equals with the big ranchers that
have been breeding chinchillas for 25 to 50+ years. That is,
"equals", as in knowing, learning and maintaining the highest
quality chinchillas and standards as possible, and on a consistent
basis, not just occasionally, by dumb luck. You can not put just
any two chinchillas together, allow them to breed and expect to
have healthy, high quality kits from them.
Before becoming a breeder you must know at least the basics of
what you are going to attempt, or you are asking for trouble.
There is much to learn before you can be a good breeder. So,
why is it important to have/produce show/breeding quality
chinchillas, even with the hobby breeder? Because healthy, good
quality chinchillas live a happier, healthier, longer life, if cared for
properly! What money you spend in the beginning for good high
quality breeders/chinchillas can be seen in what monies you do
not have to spend in the future for health problems with your
chin. They should be around for a long time.
Being a "chinchilla breeder", carries much responsibility with
the title. This is where the shows and field days, sponsored by the
two major chinchilla associations and a few researchers, come into
the picture. This is where we can all share information as to how
to best care for our chinchillas, and what is considered to be a
high quality, healthy chinchilla. We must use breeding practices
that will keep the line equal to, or better than the parents we put
together. I have never gone to a chinchilla show that I did not
learn something new. If you listen and ask questions, you too,
can learn.
Chinchilla breeding use to be a "family affair" because it was a
business. It is still a "family affair", even with the smallest of
hobby breeders, not because it is a business, but because we have
fallen in love with these wonderful little fur balls we lovingly refer
to as our "chinnies". We, too, start our family members out young,
so they can learn as they grow, what we are now trying to cram
into our heads as adults. What we strive to remember, they will
think of as common every day knowledge, almost second nature.
| 2007 MCBA Nationals March 23rd-24th Auburn, Indiana |
| From: To: |
| To a familiar family of You have to learn 3 Generations of breeders ... how to do it all. |
| The shows also give everyone a chance to visit with each other and learn from each other. The fellowship within the "chinchilla world" often creates/builds life time friendships. From the newest single chinchilla owner to those who have been in the chinchilla world for many years, it is a time to learn what is new and teach what has been proven tried and true over many years. Gathering in small groups before and after the show and during breaks is always enjoyed. |
| And what's the topic of conversations? |
Chinchillas ... to be sure! |
| Click on the bouncing chins to go to the other pages ... |
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| Some Pages Still Under Construction ... Be sure to check back! If you have a picture or comment you would like to add, please let me know. Thanks! |
| ~5~ |
| OR Return to: Luv 'N Chins |
