American Chinchilla Rabbits

American Chinchilla is a beautiful breed of rabbit known for its luxurious fur, which so greatly resembles the South American Chinchilla lanigera.  Am Chins are kept mostly for show today as a result of the commercial rabbit meat market turning towards the white breeds; however, many restaurants still seek the Am Chin meat for it's excellent qualities.  They are considered a meat rabbit and are listed on the Slow Food's Ark of Taste and as Critical on the The Livestock Conservancy.  

The American Chinchilla is a large, hardy and gentle animal.  It also has a good meat to bone ratio.  Does produce large litters, have good mothering instincts, and have excellent milking capabilities.  Am. Chinchillas are shown as a class six rabbit, reaching a mature weight of 9-11 pounds for bucks and 10-12 pounds for does.  Our Chins are fully pedigreed and from the Toebbe-Reichart lines. 

At first glance the American Chinchilla is salt and peppered colored, but once the fur is blown into, four distinct bands of color will appear. The under color is to be dark slate blue at the base; intermediate portion of pearl to be as light as possible, with the top edge being a very narrow black band (base definitely wider than the intermediate portion); above this is a very light band, brightly ticked with wavy jet black hairs to resemble the beautiful Chinchilla surface color. 

If you blow on the fur, the bands of color are easily seen on an agouti animal.