Greenwood Chinchillas
Showing Chinchillas
The best way to learn what makes a good or a bad chinchilla is to go along to a few shows, see the animals and ask the judges as many questions as you can think of! I have found them always to be very helpful when the questions asked are sensible and formulated in advance.
When first starting out you may be surprised at the difference between what you think is a good animal and what a judge considers to be a good animal. Thought all chinchillas that are good should have eye appeal!
Size is the main criteria that will instantly shock people - Show Quality chinchillas are 2-3 times the size of most pets! This was something that really stands out when people come to visit me and see the difference between the pets I still keep and the animals that are here from good breeding stock.
As with showing any colour mutation in a show, the main criteria for a show quality black velvet are as listed in the NCS publication The Guide To Quality Chinchillas:-
Conformation should be blocky - not thin necked, or long to look at in the body
The overall size should be large and in proportion - around 800g when an adult
The fur should be classed as short and silky, but strong to stand-up. There should be a blue tint to the fur, not brown or orange from oxidisation which can be present in many chins bred from beige derivatives or imported stock.
Additionally, there should not be any obvious fur faults anywhere on the animal. These would include genetic fur faults such as swirls, rosettes, cross laid fur, or fur damage such as chewing or fur slip
An animal should be in good condition on the day of the show, preferably showing any signs of priming at the time of the show.
Except for charcoals and ebonies, there should be a totally clear white belly - charcoal and ebony derivatives MUSTN'T have a clear white belly