Riverwind Rabbitry & Farms

  As you all know by now we love the Rare Heritage Breeds, therefore since we already raise flemish giants, and we were wanting to branch out to different colors, it only made since to turn and head in this direction.  The Giant Chinchilla rabbit is similar in color and size as the Gray & Steel Gray flemish, however body type is slightly different, and size is slightly smaller.  But since this breed is also considered endangered it was a better fit for us to take on as our 2nd Rare Rabbit Breed.  We were very pleased to acquire our herd start from the very well known breeder Lawrence "Butch" Coats of West Henrietta, New York.  He is considered one of the top breeders for this wonderful breed as has accomplished too many awards and show legs with this breed to even mention.  About anywhere you see mention of this breed, "Butch" 's name is associated.  Special thanks to Butch for making this possible, and to Dawn of Willow Run Rabbitry (also of New York).  Dawn brought us this starter pair all the way from New York to Layfette, Indiana Silver Fox Nationals in April of 2009.

  We plan on starting our breeding program this summer, and have already made plans to acquire a 3rd Giant Chin to complete our trio from a different bloodline out of Michigan that we are to pick up in July.  We are very excited to have these rabbits become part of our rabbitry.

Here are a few pictures of our beautiful starter pair:

 This guy's father was a Grand Champion, and his brother resides as one of the primary herd bucks there at Butch's dad's place in New York.  We were lucky to get him, only because they had identical bloodlines with his brother. 

This girl's mother is a registered Grand champion with like 8 legs . The mother was RIS as a junior doe . The sister to our doe also won the sen doe class at Convention in Louisville, that doe also was BOB at the giant chin nationals last spring.  This girl's father was 1st place 6-8 buck at chin nationals last spring he is registered with 2 legs . Both of his parents are registered and his mother was a grand champion.

UPDATE: This doe took BOB in New York 3/28/09 before coming to start our herd.

The following information courtesy  of American Livestock Breeds Conservatory:

Giant Chinchilla Rabbit

   The Giant Chinchilla is of American origin, developed in 1921 by Edward H. Stahl of Holmes Park, Missouri. Stahl was one of the first men to own the sensational new breed called Chinchilla, which was created in France in 1913. Once the breed hit American shores in 1919, Stahl knew that it would take the American fur industry by storm but would be hampered by the breed’s small size. While other breeders began to breed up the weights to what would become known as the American Chinchilla, Stahl set his sights on breeding a “Giant Chinchilla.” In the basement of his home he began experimental breeding using a pure Chinchilla buck of large size, and with perfect color, to does of New Zealand Whites and several other large breeds. The offspring from the cross with the White Flemish and the American Blue does had reasonably good coloration with progress toward a larger size, and were used for continued selection. On Christmas morning, 1921, a Giant Chinchilla doe was born that he considered his ideal. He named her the “Million Dollar Princess.”

   A proposed working standard was presented for the American Chinchilla Giant in 1924, but was withdrawn in favor of the American Chinchilla (Heavyweight Chinchilla). At the demand of breeders of these giants, the standard was again proposed in February 1928, and this time the standard was accepted for the Giant Chinchilla. It should be noted that Edward H. Stahl, is the first and only individual to ever make a million dollars from the sale of rabbit breeding stock and is considered the “Father of the Domestic Rabbit Industry in America.”

   Giant Chinchillas are large with mature bucks weighing in at 12 to 15 pounds and does at 13 to 16 pounds. It is the only breed in America that is judged for its commercial value, with meat producing qualities given top consideration on the judging table. Because of their large size, hutches with all wooden floors and a heavy bedding of shavings and straw are required. The breed is gentle in nature. Does have large litters and are very good mothers. Youngsters grow very fast and it is easy to produce a 7 pound fryer in just 2 months.