The Standard Chinchilla Rabbit Breed, originally known in America simply as a Chinchilla, arrived in America in 1919. A British gentleman sailed to New York to show his rabbits at the New York State Fair. After the exhibit, he sold his rabbits. They were bought by Edward Stahl of Pearl River, NY and Jack Harris of Akron, OH. Marcellus W. Meek imported additional Chinchilla rabbits in 1920. Being a rather small rabbit, the Chinchilla was not a good meat rabbit, so breeders concentrated on creating a larger variety. In 1928, the original Chinchilla rabbit was approved by the ARBA as the Standard Chinchilla.
All three varieties of the Chinchilla were extremely popular in America and by 1928, there were 9,990 registered with the American Rabbit & Cavy Breeders Association. Between November 1928 and November 1929, 17,328 Chinchilla rabbits were registered. Sports from the Chinchilla breed (kits that were not up to Chinchilla standards) were important to the creation of the Silver Martens, American Sables and Siamese Sable rabbit breeds.
The Standard Chinchilla has no Intermediate class. The Senior Bucks weigh 5 to 7 pounds with an ideal weight of 6 pounds. The Senior Does weigh 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 pounds with an ideal weight of 6 1/2 pounds. Junior Bucks should not weigh over 5 1/2 pounds and no less than 2 1/2 pounds and Junior Does should weigh between 2 3/4 to 6 pounds. The bunny should have ears no longer than 5 inches with a nice compact body. A dark slate blue is the only true color of this breed.
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