Chinchilla Shows, Photos and Information
On the right you will find photos of some of the shows I have shown at over the last couple of decades.
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-$8, 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 between six and eighteen months but can be shown at any age. Some shows will have a baby derby where the crowd votes on the cutest baby. Everyone is welcome and are encouraged to bring their chins, even if they only have one as a pet.
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.
Live shows are normally a one day event with pelt/live shows being a two day event. Most breeders travel many hours to shows and I've gone to several in Canada. If you think that you'd like to attend a show there is usually a current list on the Empress Chinchilla and MCBA Chinchilla websites.
Current List of 2023/2024 Chinchilla shows.
MCBA NY/NE Show Sept 15/16 2023 - Union City PA
MCBA West Coast - October 14th 2023 - Monroe, WA
MCBA Wisconsin Regional - Oct 21st 2023 - Mazomanie, WI
ECBC - January 6th 2024 - Great Lakes show Auburn, IN
ECBC - January 13-15th 2024 - California Branch - Nevada County Fairgrounds, Sugar Pine Lodge grass Valley, CA
ECBC - January 26-27 - SEA Branch, Winter Garden, FL
ECBC - February 3rd - Colorado Branch - Castle Rock, CO
ECBC - Feb 23 - 25 - National Show - Colfax, Iowa
MCBA Nationals is March 15 - 17, 2023 in Auburn, IN