Chinchillas are small animals orginating in the Andes mountains in the South American countries of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. They are in the rodent family and their nearest relative is the guinea pig (cavy) and the porcupine. In the wild, chinchillas made their homes in rock crevices, and would jump from ledge to ledge, hence the" hop-like" gait. At the high elevations of the mountains, the atmosphere is dry and cool.
In 1923, the first herd of chinchillas was brought to the United States by Mathias F. Chapman, a mining engineer in Chile. These 11 animals became the foundation stock for chinchillas in the United States.

Chinchillas are virtually extinct in the wild.

Today's chinchilla breeders are responsible for keeping the species from being extinct altogether.

The chinchilla's digestive system is similar to that of a horse, and need a diet that is high in fiber. Feeding a good quality chinchilla pellet is the most common and easiest way to provide for the nutritional needs of the animal. All feed should be fresh, as the vitamins that are used in feeds lose their nutritional value after three to four months. If a rancher chooses to feed a top quality rabbit feed, they should choose one that has a manufacture date on the bag.

Fresh, clean hay should always be kept in each individual chinchilla cage. Good quality hay is a way to supplement the diet and provide the essential fiber the chinchilla needs. A rancher may choose to feed Timothy, Alfalfa, and Burmuda hays, or alfalfa mini bales or hay cubes. The biggest concern is that loose hay or hay cubes be free from mold and other contaminants.

Fresh, clean water should always be available to your chinchillas. A chin owner may choose to either use water bottles or install an automatic watering system. Water bottles should be cleaned after each use by washing them in a dishwasher, or with hot soap and water by hand.

Water is essential for life. All animals, including chins, cannot live without ample, clean water. Do not use distilled water, as it lacks in essential minerals found naturally in water.

Chinchillas love their dust bath and you will soon discover that not only is this necessary for healthy hygiene, it is also an enjoyable treat for you and the chinchilla. Chinchilla dust is derived from a soft stone, which is ground into a fine powder, and removes oils, dirt, and loose fur from the coat of the chinchilla. Chinchilla fur will become matted and dirty if not allowed to bathe on a regular basis.

A good general practice is dusting for fifteen minutes two times per week. If the dust is left in the cage on a continual basis, it should be changed at least weekly.

Dust should not be sifted or shared between multiple animals. This could promote the spreading of disease, if any is present.

Chinchillas do not have sweat glands, therefore, it is essential to keep them in a cool environment. The rule of thumb is, if you're comfortable, they're comfortable.

Chinchillas have approximately 80 hairs per folicle, so they don't have a problem with parasites.

The gestation of a chinchilla is 111 days, and the average litter is 2 kits.