Chinchillas... or the art of ranching in your garden
Image caption from Rhodesian Farmer magazine: Mr. Frank Gillingham holding one of his high-class male chinchillas. Although nervous by nature, all his animals are completely used to being handled by him.
Courtesy Rhodesian Farmer
May 20th, 1966
MENTION RANCHING and the average farmer things in terms of thousands of acres, but in Rhodesia there has grown up a new type of ranching –Chinchillas.
What are Chinchillas.com and how to they come to be regarded by the world of fashion as the ultimate fur? Certainly to see a finished Chinchilla fur coat is quite something, in spite of the price, but in actual fact the fur is a work of art, be it on the animal or as a beautifully fashioned garment.
We recently visited the headquarters of Rhodesia's leading Chinchilla producer, Mr. Frank Gillingham, to see for ourselves just what is entailed. Mr. Gillingham has made Chinchillas and every aspect of their upbringing the object of detailed study for the past 15 years, and can be regarded as being a world expert on the animal. His studies and researches have led him along many varied paths and have resulted in many valuable discoveries such as the effects of heat and light on the characteristics of the animals' coat, genetic tendencies and, most important, the art of breeding for consistency and psychology of the animal.
His Chinchillas are kept in large houses designed and built by himself. The animals themselves are housed in battery cages constructed of light gauge wire, again self designed. Each female in the breeding section is confined to a separate cage and prevented from leaving by means of a light collar fitted around her neck. The males have free access to each breeding cage of their "section" by means of corridors which connect each cage. On average, one male serves six to eight females as Mr. Gillingham believes that the efficiency of the male is vitally important for the production of first-class stock. Another factor is the genetic suitability of the type of male to the females which he serves. This is important for by the production of similar marked coats on the offspring.
The cages are so designed to eliminate all sharp protu[b]erances, as these could lead to the animal cutting itself and so permanently damaging the coat. Automatic watering points are standard in every cage, and a hopper designed to eliminate wastage holds feed pellets. Small fodder racks are also built in. One side of the cage holds the breeding box and sand bath. Each cage also has a plank on which the animal can sit, and a piece of hard wood for the inmate to chew. This is essential because Chinchillas' teeth will grow to a length of nine inches if allowed to do so and thus the animal dies of starvation.
All houses of both the breeding and commercial sections have controlled fluorescent lighting and in addition, the breeding house has controlled colour lighting. Heating and ventilation are also controlled throughout. The breeding house is kept in semi-darkness as Mr. Gillingham has found that the animals will breed better in this way.
As a result of his studies into the psychology of the animals, all the cages back on to a solid wall. Mr. Gillingham says that his is better because the Chinchilla, being a nocturnal animal and this inclined to nervousness, feels more assured by the fact that nothing can approach from the rear, in fact is an animal is afraid of one, it retreats to the back of the cage and looks at the wall.
What of actual breeding techniques? Firstly, the males must possess sufficient personality to dominate the females, essential because under the battery system the females develop somewhat domineering tendencies. It takes approximately six weeks to introduce a new male to his females, as on first introduction, the females will not accept him. Although the male must possess a dominant nature, this must not be too aggressive as he will then fight with and damage the female. Baby Chinchillas go through two difficult periods, the first being from birth to about one month old and then again from four to seven months. The reasons for this latter period of difficulty have yet to be discovered.
Feeding and cleanliness of the animal are also important factors. It is essential to have two feeds of different nutritional values. Each cage is supplied with a dist bath, which contains amongst other things, Manganese Silicate and fine grain sand. Removable trays are sited beneath the cages, and are cleaned daily. These trays are essential as the Chinchilla is an untidy eater, and thus the wastage factor has to be considered. All the houses are maintained in spotless condition with the assistance of one African.
