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| "In Prime" |
| As a breeder/owner of a chinchilla you want to show your chin when it is "in prime", because this is when it's fur is at it's best and appears the fullest and thickest. This is when to show the best quality you have or are able to produce. Showing a chinchilla when it is not in prime (or at least close to prime) is a waste of your money, your reputation and the time of everyone at the show. If you were a tanner, it would be important to know when it is the best time to tan the hide. The chart below gives information taken from the Chinchilla Priming Calendar, copyrighted in 1955, by Mr. Carl J. Farner of California. Mr. Farner made/developed this calendar during his 6 years of study with chinchilla ranchers and tanners. Mr. Farner also served with the Medical Department of the U.S. Navy for 32 years. In his studies, Mr. Farner concluded that the first prime growth commences at the age of six (6) months and becomes fully prime at the age of ten (10) months. It then turns off prime for a period of 111 days, almost 16 weeks or 3.7 months. At the end of this time period, the fur starts the second prime growth which requires 132 days, almost 19 weeks or 4.4 months, to reach full or peak prime for the second time. The chinchilla's fur and body continues to repeat this process every 8 months or 243 days, for the rest of it's life span. Three weeks prior to the peak of prime, the skin begins to clear of the blue pigment and becomes clear and fully prime in the three week (21 day) period before it reaches prime. Each additional peak prime occurs every 8 months or 243 days. During these three weeks the body of the chinchilla nourishes and builds new tissue or sealing over the area forming under the fur. It is a leather tissue covering the fur roots or follicles. This produces a strong durable leather or base for the chinchilla's fur, holding it in place. This schedule is true for all healthy chinchillas. Illness or fur-chewing can disrupt this process/timeing. To see a picture of one of the original priming calendar wheels and the letter that came with it, please check below the Prime Chart. |
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| Why is it important to know when your chinchilla is "in prime"? |
| To the left you can see a picture of the actual priming wheel chart. There is a wheel on the back that easily turns to allow you to see in one of the 7 windows provided, when a chinchilla will start prime and peak prime. Below is a "Forward" to the Chinchilla Priming calendar which explains how it was developed and by whom. |
| I was lucky enough to find this Priming Calendar and ... as with all the other information I get ... would like to share the information with you. We all need to learn and share information ... for the health and future of all chinchillas! |
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