Previous Chinchilla Shows and Pictures
Chinchilla shows are put on by the two breeders associations, Emperess Chinchilla Breeders Cooperative (
ECBC) and Mutation Chinchilla Breeders Association (
MCBA).
Each has a yearly national show and each club will host an annual show or field day. Clubs often span several states and breeders are often members of both associations.
Showing chinchillas is a great way to meet people and learn, shows are open to the public and usually free to watch. The cost to show a chinchilla is $4-$6, you do not have to be a member to show. There are no special vet or health certificates required. Maximum number of allowed chins per person is 40, 20 standards and 20 mutations.
Chinchillas show best after six months of age and before 18 months, but they can be shown at any age. It is common for breeders to bring and show adult animals intended for breeding to get an opinion of quality. It is becomming more common for pet owners to show and they often do quite well.
Shows typically start on a Friday evening with check-in between 6PM and midnight. Animals are generally left in the show hall with a volunteer watcher. Hall doors open back up at 6AM for grooming, the show starts around 9AM and depending on the number of animals can last until 5PM with a break for lunch. Shows can range from 50 - 400 animals, average is around 150.
After the show there is cleanup and almost always an awards banquet, dinner, or potluck.
Live shows are normally a one day event with pelt/live shows being a two day event. Most breeders travel several hours to shows and I've gone to several in Canada. Average drive time for show patrons is 6 hours each way. Many travel over 20. If you think that you'd like to attend a show there is usually a current list on the
Chins-n-Hedgies forum.
The closest upcoming show will be the Southeast Coastal Chapter MCBA Show, it will be a live animal and optional claiming show. It is being held Saturday, February 13, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.
