| Mutations & The Social! Page 4 of 5 |
What is a mutation?
A mutation is any color other than the original standard gray color.
What are the different mutation colors?
1) white - white mosaic and pink white, also known as a white/beige
2) beige - Having a beige veiling and a white belly, the white/beige, also known as a
pink-white, the brown velvet (beige or brown TOV), having a dark face, head and back
blending to a light beige, then into a white belly. And the tan, which is a beige/ebony cross
that is the same color (dark beige or brown) all over and no white belly.
3) black - Gunning Black, also known as a black velvet, or black TOV and has a white
belly.
4) ebony/charcole - Jet black all over to a mix of gray and black, no white.
5) violet - Veiling like a standard gray, but with a softer, more even gray that has a purple
hue to it. Violet wrap would also go in this category, being violet color all over and no
white.
6) sapphire - Veiling like the violet, but with a blue hue to it's fur and has a white belly.
These are the different divisions in the judging of the mutation chinchillas.
There are no sapphires at today's field day/show.
A mutation is any color other than the original standard gray color.
What are the different mutation colors?
1) white - white mosaic and pink white, also known as a white/beige
2) beige - Having a beige veiling and a white belly, the white/beige, also known as a
pink-white, the brown velvet (beige or brown TOV), having a dark face, head and back
blending to a light beige, then into a white belly. And the tan, which is a beige/ebony cross
that is the same color (dark beige or brown) all over and no white belly.
3) black - Gunning Black, also known as a black velvet, or black TOV and has a white
belly.
4) ebony/charcole - Jet black all over to a mix of gray and black, no white.
5) violet - Veiling like a standard gray, but with a softer, more even gray that has a purple
hue to it. Violet wrap would also go in this category, being violet color all over and no
white.
6) sapphire - Veiling like the violet, but with a blue hue to it's fur and has a white belly.
These are the different divisions in the judging of the mutation chinchillas.
There are no sapphires at today's field day/show.
| ^ So, what if your chin carries several different colors in it's family history? That question is solved by a quote from Barbara Shoots, "regardless of the animals background ... this (the chin above and to the left) would be considered a beige as it is (you see) the beige color with a white belly. A color is determined by what the phenotype shows. The only exception would be if it had a recessive gene ... no way of knowing this unless mated to another carrier of that color." |
And what color is the chin below?
It's a dark violet wrap, showing the wrap
around color of the violet.
<<< The chin
to the left ...
is from the
same line
as the violet
wrap to the
right. >>>
It's what you
see that counts.
It's a dark violet wrap, showing the wrap
around color of the violet.
<<< The chin
to the left ...
is from the
same line
as the violet
wrap to the
right. >>>
It's what you
see that counts.
| Now, starts the mutation part of the show ... |
| The white chins, known as white mosaic or white piebald, are the first of the mutations to be judged. These, have white fur with different patterns of gray or black, with dark ears, dark eyes and black/gray pads on the feet. |
| The white fur should be a white white. Some white fur often yellows with age. Oxidation causes it to yellow. |
| When judging in a field day show, the rules are not as strict. If there are not enough of one color to judge, two or more colors that are close to the same can be judged together. There were not enough "pink-white", so they were judged with the beige chinchillas. A pink white is a cross between a beige and a white mosaic. |
| Here we have the violets ... A violet (#84) which is a homo violet or also known as a pure violet. We also have a violet wrap. She took a blue ribbon in her last showing, (from the same judge) but only a red, second place, in this one. The problem? She is 'out of prime'. |
| What is "prime"? Please check these two pages on my web site that will explain prime: History of Chinchilla Priming Wheel w/Photo An Actual Priming Chart |
| You were visitor # Please, do come back to visit us again! |
Also, judged in with the beiges is a tan (on the far left
above), a cross between a beige and an ebony.
This one was obviously not prepared (dusted and
groomed) for the show and has a red cast to it. The red
cast is very obvious in the picture. This is not a desirable
trait.
above), a cross between a beige and an ebony.
This one was obviously not prepared (dusted and
groomed) for the show and has a red cast to it. The red
cast is very obvious in the picture. This is not a desirable
trait.
| Below, is a brown velvet or a beige TOV, which is a cross between a black velvet and a beige. |
| Pink White (white/beige) Brown Velvet (TOV) a cross between a beige and a black velvet. Tan Wrap (beige/ebony) All have beige in their family background. |
| Some personal notes about the ebony chinchilla ... |
| The ebony chinchillas are as beautiful as they are rare, but are often called a "wild card". Could it be because once it is 'in a line' it can 'show-up' any where down the line, when least expected? I don't know, but it could easily be the reason. Ebonies are a good tool to help develop the wrap-a-round colors, such as the tan and the violet wrap. They are also used to darken the colors, making them richer looking. BUT ... when crossing an ebony with another chin that has a white belly, it can produce chinchillas with a gray or "dirty" belly. It can do this for generations down the line. A "dirty" belly is not desirable. When crossing an ebony with a white mosaic, you can get some beautiful white/ebony chinchillas ... But you can also get some "dirty" bellies on the standard gray kits that will be born for generations down this same line. Almost the same effect of the white/ebony can be produced by using a black velvet with a white mosaic. It would be known as a black/white and any standard gray kits born to this pair should have white bellies. |
| Now to the ebonies in the field day show ... |
| Checking for a red hue to any ebony is important ... you do not want a red or orange cast to any chinchilla. A blue hue is desirable. With ebonies this is very obvious, once you get them under the lights or are able to compare them next to another ebony chinchilla, in proper lighting. An ebony with blue black fur that stands up thick and tight is desirable. |
| The little violet to the right is cute, but does not show the darker rich color >>> violet # 84 has and this one is a bit small. Note: all three violets are mine ... That's why I can say what I did. ;-) |
| A white mosaic a violet and an ebony TOV. Could these 3 be the finalist? |
| Oops! My violet is eliminated and where is #76? |
| <<< Here(#80), the back up to #76 is brought in to compete against the white mosaic ... The ebony wins this elimination and will now go up against the ebony TOV for 1st place in the mutations. |
| The two to the right are now competing for the title of "Grand Show Champion". |
| You can check on page #5 for a list of all winners. |
| The show is over, trophies have been given out ... Now for the clean-up! It is common courtesy to help with the set-up and the clean-up ... It is also your "Thank-you" to the persons hosting the show. It is a normal part of participating in a chinchilla show/field day! |
| Now for the Social! |
| The social is just that ... a gathering of those who want to talk about chinchillas and visit with each other. A place to chat with old friends ...and meet new friends that have something in common with you. Not to mention the good food! |
| MENUE A dozen Pizzas Potato Salad Chips & Dips Party Mix Brownies & Cookies Plenty to Drink ... and a ... Chinchilla Goodie Basket as a door prize |
| Old friends and new friends ... they are all here ... |
| In closing, I would like to give you a little advice ... Please, go to a chinchilla show or a chinchilla field day ... There is so much to learn about this fantastic furry little creature ... It is worth your time and money ... You always go home knowing more than you did before you came. Don't forget ... |
| See the winners on page 5 !!! |
| Hard work pays, especially when all went off like clock work ... |
| After a couple of hours of chatting ... We all say 'good bye' ... untill the next show! |
| A short break for a very tired Judge. |
