Sunshine Chinchillas

23/03/2024

Sunshine Chinchillas attended the MCBA National Show in Auburn, IN last weekend.

Our Placings:
Color Phase Champ - Recessive White Female
First Place - Black Velvet Female
Second Place - TOV Ebony Female
Second Place - Black Pearl Female
Second Place - Black Pearl Male

Congrats to everyone! 😊

**Please note**
These cages are only temporary for showing purposes, chinchillas are NEVER housed in these cages.

28/01/2024

Sunshine Chinchillas attended the ECBC SEA Branch show this weekend.

Our Top Placings:
Grand Show Champion - TOV Ebony Female
Class Champion - Champagne Female
Class Champion - Black Pearl Female

We also received 2nd place breeder award with a total of 79 points.

We are so proud of our chins! 😊

**Please note**
These cages are only temporary for showing purposes, chinchillas are NEVER housed in these cages.

17/10/2023

Lots of surrender requests are coming in, most due to the cost of care or not having enough time to dedicate to them.

Before surrendering, please consider your options. Buying supplies in bulk can save a considerable amount of money and will last MUCH longer for homes that only have a few chinchillas.

Rabbit feed like Manna Pro Sho and Blue Seal are SAFE to feed chinchillas. Oxbow Chinchilla (red bag) is a great food but it can get expensive when not buying in bulk. Hay allergy? Hay cubes produce much less dust than loose hay and they are a great alternative.

Bulk pine shavings are much cheaper than shavings at the pet store, they don’t go bad. Carefresh/paper bedding is an UNSAFE, expensive option you should always avoid. Fleece liners can initially be expensive but are a great reusable option. However, pine shavings typically require less work as you can just dump them and add new once a week. Whereas liners may need to be washed/refreshed multiple times a week.

Also note, chinchillas are very independent creatures. Most do not enjoy being held or picked up, this is normal and it is completely fine if they want to be left alone. This does not mean you are a bad owner or not giving them the attention they need. Outside of cage time is optional, NOT a requirement. Most chinchillas feel more secure and calmer staying in their cage, this is completely fine and safer than constantly taking them out for playtime.

Lastly, we get a lot of surrenders due to the chinchilla being “lonely”. Chinchillas can live alone, some even prefer to. Adopting another to bond with your chinchilla does not guarantee they will get along. If your chinchilla seems “depressed” or lethargic, this is not loneliness, they may require an emergency vet visit as there could be an underlying health problem.

If you are looking to adopt, check out our available rescues. We are still getting several surrender requests and may have to stop accepting them for the time being due to space.

09/10/2023

❌BEWARE OF FB SCAMMER GROUPS❌

The chinchilla breeder community for those of us who show is extremely small. When in doubt,, ask ask ask and ask again. Do research, google can be your friend as you can do a reverse image search and see where the photos of these chinchillas actually come from. If you find it from a different website, email the breeder and ask questions.

NEVER PAY IN FULL BEFORE YOU SEE THE ANIMAL IN PERSON. Breeders asking for deposits to hold a chinchillas is common place, they will NEVER ask you to pay the full purchase price before you physically see the animal. 

30/07/2023

This is Patches! He has quite the interesting coat pattern.

Check him out here:
https://sunshinechinchillas.com/chinchillas-for-sale

10/07/2023

Super proud of this big Lowe recessive white girl, can’t wait to see how much more she will grow!

Special thanks to RDZC Ranch and ABC Chinchillas, we produced this girl from a mix of their exceptional lines.

(NOT FOR SALE)

04/07/2023

Happy 4th! 🎆

14/05/2023

Scam pages and commenters are on the rise. Every so often, we have scammers in our comments section saying they have available animals. We do our best to delete these comments as soon as they pop up. Check our pinned section on our page for more common scam posts/pages to avoid.

23/04/2023

Uh oh! Babies!

These FOUR little ones are a prime example of why s*xing your chinchillas is so important. Back in January, we received a surrender of two adults and their newborn kit. Mom and dad were thought to be the same gender until they popped out a little surprise.

After counting, it has only been 107 days since mom last gave birth. Chinchilla pregnancies last around 111 days on average. This means she likely got pregnant right before or after giving birth as dad was separated the following day. Chinchillas can carry two separate pregnancies due to having two cervices. This means that one cervix may have babies in it, they mate again at a different time and become pregnant in the other cervix. They can also successfully mate right before or immediately after giving birth.

Thus, it is SO important to properly s*x your chinchillas to prevent surprise babies. Chinchillas that are the opposite s*x should not be housed together as they will reproduce. Chins can happily live alone or in same s*x pairs. Males and females do not get along any better than same s*x groups. Female chinchillas DO NOT need to experience motherhood to be happy, this is an irresponsible mentality.

Animals that are not pedigreed and are not from a reputable breeder should never be bred. Intentionally breeding these animals is considered backyard breeding. This can result in health problems and complications, and is dangerous for all animals involved. We do not condone backyard breeding.

That being said, surprise litters like this one do happen without the intent to breed. We recommend checking and double checking the s*x of your chins. When in doubt, reach out to a reputable breeder for assistance. We are all more than willing to help you confirm the s*x of your chinchilla(s).

If you find that you have opposite s*xes paired or suspect your chinchilla may be pregnant, it’s important to begin preparations. Females should be immediately separated from any males and placed on pregnancy watch. They do not need another chinchilla to help them with raising kits, it’s better to separate mom from dad to avoid future litters. Females can be left with mom, they will not hurt the babies.

Mothers should be placed in a single level cage no taller than 18" with ledges no higher than 6". No wheel, no playtime, no hidey huts, very limited handling. Cage bar spacing should be 1/2" by 1". Mom does not need special supplements; a healthy pellet, hay, and fresh water is sufficient for pregnancy and nursing. It’s important to start an emergency vet fund for complications as well. A minimum of $1500+ should be accumulated in the case of emergency c-sections. Kits should not be over-handled and DO NOT need playtime. Once male kits are 8 weeks, they will need to be weaned from mom and put into a separate cage.

If you need assistance with s*xing, suspect your chin is pregnant, or need help with surprise babies, reach out to a reputable breeder.

Update: these babies have all found homes!

07/04/2023

Miss Fraggle is ready for Easter! Isn’t she a cutie?!

25/03/2023

❌ Attention.. there have been several spam / scam accounts commenting and replying to comments under our photos. We have been monitoring and removing these accounts as quickly and efficiently as we can. 

➡️ Please remember .. Facebook is full of fake accounts trying to swindle unsuspecting people out of money. If a page or “person” commenting or replying to your comment under one of our photos is trying to sell you animals this is a scam.

➡️❌When in doubt , ignore and move on. Any legitimate rescue or animal breeder does not need to comment or post on any other page than their own with what animals they have.

With that said.. have a great weekend!

27/09/2022

Stay safe everyone in the path of Idalia

Just some tips for those preparing for Hurricane Ian.

Stay safe everyone!

🌪⛈Uh oh! Looks like we might have a hurricane coming! It’s good to keep these tips in mind when preparing for Dorian’s arrival:

✅Water: make sure to have enough for your animals and yourself. At least a gallon per person a day, half gallon per pet a day. Be sure to bring bottled/boiled/filtered water on any car rides to give your chinchilla.

✅A/C: do you have a generator or a friends house to bring your chin to in case of power outages? Remember, they need to be in a consistently cool temperature; frozen water bottles are not a good substitute for this.

✅Food: make sure to have enough for your animals and yourself, at least a weeks worth of food and fresh hay or hay cubes.

✅Medical Supplies: antibacterial ointment, saline solution, wash clothes, oral syringes and plain Cheerios are always good to have around just in case.

✅Travel cage or carrier: are you prepared to evacuate? Be sure to have a carrier (hard plastic or metal, no fabric) prepped with food, water, hay and bedding just in case. Consider a temporary cage if you are staying somewhere else for a while.

✅Evacuation plans: finding a destination, planning out a route, stockpiling supplies, and creating a game plan are some of the best ways to be prepped for sudden evacuation.

24/08/2022

🐭Have you adopted from us in the past?🐭

Sunshine Chinchillas will now feature chins adopted from us on our Happy Homes page!

Requirements include:
•Your first name (or first initial) and last initial.
•2-3 photos of your chinchilla(s).
•A brief update on your chinnie(s) and your adoption experience with Sunshine Chinchillas.

Please note, this will be on our public website. Do not include photos of yourself with your chinchilla unless you are comfortable with this. We will not be posting any photos of minors, so please do not include any children in the pictures.

If you would like to be featured on this page, let us know below!

‼️Please remember, this will be on our public website. Do not include any information you’re not comfortable with sharing‼️

18/07/2022

Shipping chinchillas and why we don’t.

Lately this question has been asked of us on more than one occasion. Do we ship or use a transport service to adopt out to someone who lives hours away.

No. We don’t. Why?

We here at Sunshine Chinchillas are a very small breeder with focus more on the rescue side of pet ownership. We take the time to get to know each chinchilla before it’s placed in its forever home. When we adopt out an animal we want to be able to meet the potential adopter , speak with them so that they know who we are and know that for as long as they are this animals human we are here for them to answer any questions or concerns.

If we were to ship or transport an animal this cannot be done. Once the animal leaves our care we would have no way of knowing if the animal was taken care of properly during its trip, we would be unable to meet the owner in person to speak with them and talk with them prior to them taking their new pet home.

This is a quality of our business that we refuse to compromise on. We are no way shape or form looking to treat our animals as if they were an Amazon product and can be ordered online with no visible contact with the new owner. We want our adopters to always know that we are here for them and will always be here for them under any circumstances. This cannot be done without actually meeting each and every person who adopts from us.

So for those who are looking for an animal in a state other than Florida, we highly encourage you to reach out to your local breeders get to know them and have them help you find the perfect fit for your family.

30/06/2022

They’re growing up! These little white ebony boys born last month had some very interesting markings. Seeing them grow and watching their coats change is amazing!

Will they darken or lighten up more as they get older? We’ll see!

🤍🖤🤍

13/05/2022

A fun example of how the mosaicism gene works at random!

These three little boys were born a few days ago, when we found them we knew two were definitely white ebonies (mosaic x ebony cross). However, the third boy was a bit of a surprise. He initially looked like a medium ebony shade, but we noticed that the very tip of his tail was white and he has a very light white spot on his forehead. So, he is also a white ebony!

These three boys are so different in coloration. One boy is heavily marked with white spots and a half white tail, the second is more of a silvery grey shade with a half white tail, and the third is almost completely ebony except for his tail tip and forehead. The ebony gene also makes their color interesting as it makes them vary in shade/darkness.

This just goes to show how random the mosaic gene is, it is almost impossible to predict or breed for certain markings. These boys may turn completely white, keep their markings, or develop a different coat pattern as they grow up.

We can’t wait to see what they look like as they get older!

14/04/2022

Just a few of our chunks! 🥰

(NOT FOR SALE)

10/04/2022

Sunshine Chinchillas attended the ECBC SEA Branch show this weekend. We showed 8 chinchillas and entered 1 kit into the Baby Derby.

Our Placings:
Grand Show Champion - Dark Tan Male
Reserve Grand Show - Black Velvet Female
Class Champion - Tan White Male
First Place - Pink White Female
First Place - Blue Diamond Female
First Place - Standard Grey Male
Second Place - Standard Grey Female
Second Place - Champagne Male
Second Place Baby Derby - Homo PW Female

We also received 3rd place breeder award with a total of 76 points.

We are so proud of our little chinnies! 😊

**Please note**
These cages are only temporary for showing purposes, chinchillas are NEVER housed in these cages.

20/03/2022

‼️Please Note‼️

Sunshine Chinchillas never advertises on websites like Craigslist, Hoobly, Classifieds, or OfferUp. We also do not advertise on social media sights like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Any social media posts/ads using the Sunshine Chinchillas name or photos watermarked with our name are scams.

The only legitimate Sunshine Chinchillas profiles or websites are this page we are posting on now, our Instagram account , and our website www.SunshineChinchillas.com.

‼️If you see these scammers, please let us know ‼️

Any fraudulent ads using our name to make a profit will be immediately reported.

18/01/2022

‼️ Fellow Chin Owners ‼️

Please DO NOT follow the advice within this article. Small Pet Select known for selling hays and various animal supplies, has compiled a list of “chin safe” treats. Unfortunately, some of these treats are absolutely not chin safe and are very misleading.

Chinchillas should NEVER have any fresh fruit or vegetables of any amount or kind. Chinchillas are used to a diet that consists of dry desert foliage, NOT foods with a high water and sugar content.

Although they do state this in the article, they still recommend that a small amount of fresh fruit, such as strawberry, is safe. Any amount of fresh fruit is not safe. Please do not follow this advice. This can lead to diarrhea, bloat, and possible death.

Another consideration within this article are dried fruits. Although safe in VERY small amounts, it’s still recommended to avoid these and opt for a safer treat such as plain cheerios or rose hips, these must also be given sparingly. Some chins even consider chewing apple wood or hay cubes as a treat. These are much drier with very low sugar content, thus they are safer for a chinchillas digestive tract. Feeding dried fruit is risky as you can easily overdo it, leading to complications such as bloat or diarrhea.

Please note, the information regarding the chinchilla in the article mentions removing spurs on the molars. This is not a cure for malocclusion; malocclusion has no cure. The most humane option for animals with this affliction is humane euthanasia to end their pain and suffering. The chinchilla in the article was also likely suffering from bloat due to the unsafe paper bedding and plastic items within his cage (visible in the photo), as well as improper diet and malocclusion.

Please, choose healthy treats for your chinchillas. A proper pellet, fresh hay, and purified water are the best diet for your little chin buddy and will provide all of the essential nutrients they need as well as roughage to wear down the teeth. Treats should be given with careful consideration and in moderation to keep your chinnie healthy and safe.

Chinchillas are master beggars, and love treats. But the wrong treats can make them sick, or worse. We share what are safe treats for chinchillas.

https://smallpetselect.com/safe-treats-for-chinchillas/

23/10/2021

Our first blue diamond! 💎

Blue diamonds express both the recessive violet and sapphire genes simultaneously. Thus, they are a double recessive. For comparison, this little girl can be seen next to her violet sister who is darker in coloration.

Since two recessives genes are involved in this mutation, breeding back to high quality standard greys is a must. Size, clarity of color, conformation, and density can easily be lost if careful consideration and planning are neglected.

(Not for sale)

09/10/2021

High quality standard greys are so important when breeding. They can help to improve density and conformation as well as clarity of color and veiling!

This beauty will be going right back into our standard grey line ☺️

(Not for sale)

11/08/2021

Our very first Lowe Recessive white (Goldbar) kit was born here recently! We can’t wait to see how this little guy grows 🥰

(Not for sale)

03/08/2021

‼️ Scam Alert ‼️

Once again, there are scam pages making the rounds attempting to make a profit off of unknowing adopters.

Most often, these pages will have a long list of keywords in their posts to attract buyers. This is to maximize their reach when people search for specific terms and locations. Please be wary of animal pages that give little background information and use keyword sentences in their posts, examples of this can be seen in the following images. Many individuals have been scammed out of hundreds of dollars by contacting these pages and never receive an animal. When coming across these, please report them when possible.

The best way to do this is to:

• Click the three dots on the top right of the post
• Choose the “Find Support or Report Post” option
• Select “Unauthorized Sales”
• Select “Other Animals”
• Then hit submit, next, and done

As of today, Sunshine Chinchillas will be watermarking all photos posted to our page, Instagram, and website. Unauthorized use of these photos is prohibited unless we give explicit consent. Sunshine Chinchillas does not and will never advertise animals on Facebook, Instagram, Craiglist, or Hoobly as it violates their policies.

24/06/2021

This also applies to Florida! Now that we are in summer, we are getting some serious heat. Always have a backup plan for your chinnies in case the power or AC goes out!

**WARNING WARNING WARNING**

To everyone in the Pacific Northwest! We are under extreme heat warnings for this weekend into early next week. We are set to have record breaking temperatures nearly 30 degrees more than average. Just like that level in Super Mario where the sun was trying to kill you...that will be this weekend. Last year, we saw a huge upswing in heat trauma and deaths in the chinchilla community. Please remember, the ONLY way you can get your chinchillas through a heatwave safe and alive is AIR CONDITIONING!!! Cooling slabs, fans, and ice bottles are ineffective at combating heat. Chinchillas only contain sweat glands on the bottoms of their feet, so it is NOT an effective cooling mechanism and does nothing to lower their body temperature. Their coats are adapted to hold in heat, not release, so the key to health is preventing excess rises in temperature. The ONLY way to do this, and I cannot stress this enough, IS WITH AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT. Make sure you have a/c and if you don't...get to a store if you want your chin to survive. Have a plan for cooling and set up a thermometer to keep tabs on the temperature throughout the day. Make set points through the day to check on the well being of your chins and appropriate working of your a/c. Have a backup plan! With an unusual heatwave comes excess power usage and an increased likelihood of power outages. Have a generator tested and ready to hook up, or have a gassed up car with working a/c ready to run at all times, and/or other family/friends with a/c that will accept you and the chins on short notice.

If you take precautions, but something terrible happens and your chin starts to overheat...how do you tell? You can tell a chin is in heat stress a few ways. First signs are laying as flat as possible and breathing heavier than normal. Veins in the ears will become obvious and stick out as they try to release heat, light colored animals ears will turn red. Extreme heat trauma will result in seizures...seizures will present with a chinchilla laying on their side or back and either pawing at the air while shaking the head back and forth or going into a full stretch with whiskers pushed forward and often twitching. Tremors and shaking to the body is a sign that a seizure has occurred.

What do you do if you find your chinchilla in heat stress or trauma? Immediately get them into air conditioning. If you can, do it in your car and get to a veterinarian. If veterinary assistance is applied early on heat stroke victims, the chances of long term neurological damage is greatly reduced. What you should absolutely not ever do under any circumstance is put your chinchilla into a fridge or freezer or pack ice around them. If you do this, you are causing their body to swing violently from a very high temperature to a very low temperature. This can send a chinchilla into shock, cause organ damage and failure, seizures, and long term tissue damage, or even death. It is important to bring the body temperature down slowly. It's similar to how you cannot just feed a starving animal or person a whole meal. You will shock the body, kill them, or make them more sick.

DO NOT give out of cage time during heat waves!!! Even with a/c, the extra exertion can cause heat stroke.

Please please please, be ready for the heat! Here at RDZC, we have an air conditioning unit just for the chinchillas and a backup unit in case anything happens. I have also serviced, cleaned, and prepared my a/c to make sure it is in top working condition. My husband has gassed up and prepared our generator and we will be test running it today, just to be sure we are ready. Our vehicles are gassed up and I have carriers prepared and ready to evacuate in a worst case scenario. I have alarms set on my phone for times to check on the barn temperature. It's always best to be over prepared and not use most of your prep than to lose your furry friend. Stay cool and stay safe! 💕