A VISIT TO VALLEY VIEW CHINCHILLAS

While vacationing in San Diego, my wife and I took a trip North to Vista, and visited with Jim and Lurlie Adams. Valley View Chinchillas was founded in September 1966, as a fur farm. While the days of fur farming are long over, some of the old equipment is still around. They are very nice people, and it's obvious that they care deeply about their many chins.
Here are some of the pictures that we took:

This little girl is only a few hours old. Note the dust bath container on the right. Due to the number of chins, 2 cages share the same dust. (at different times). Jim said that there are rarely any problems. Baths are given every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Jim and Lurlee have about 1200 chins, all of which seem to get wonderful care.  We couldn't fit all the cages into one photo. There is another row just like this one on the right.

Here I am, somewhat sunburned, holding one of the many chins. Like most of the chins at Valley View, this one won't be given a name until she has been purchased. However, all chins are given a number/letter ID, and very careful records are kept. Jim told me that he can trace the ancestry of ALL their chins. He has records of parentage going back to the mid 1960's.

Me with another baby.

Jim and Lurlee have had an assistant for the past 3 years. Mike is shown here with 2 of his chins. A beautiful white, and a little guy. You can see the little guys front legs in Mikes arms.

A proud mother with 2 kits.

Jim custom makes and sells cages, wheels, feeders, bottles, bottle holders, and dust. The cage prices vary from a $23 carry cage to a $102 condo. Very sturdy, and they'll be glad to ship anywhere in the world.

A friendly Ebony, with a shaving on his head.

Jim and Lurlee also offer chin-sitting services. This is the oldest chin currently on the property. She's about 15, and belongs to schoolteacher. She lives at Valley View during the summer, and will return to the school in the Fall. Very tame and friendly, which is what comes from being handled by many, many, schoolchildren.

Mom, and the twins.

I think the red eyes are caused by the camera flash.

It's a little tough to see, but this is the sign outside their home.
And of course, they sell chins. Prices vary from $50 (grey male) to $150 ( Female Afro-Violet). I'm sure that any chin you would get from Valley View Chins would be a happy, healthy chin, and would make a wonderful pet.
 
 
 
 
 

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