"Impress by Numbers"?

[TheChinClique]

This may be silly, but I feel like I am starting to see a trend of people that seem to buy as many chinnies as they can in a really short time to sort of "impress by numbers". Some of these people are brand new to chinnies and some of them are jumping right into breeding while still asking questions about feed and birth risks after the fact of aquiring these new animals. I feel like maybe they think the more they have the more elite they will be. Or like hoarding chinnies is cool or something. I am not saying that if someone who has had chins for years and years has a lot that it is bad, I just don't understand why on earth someone new to chins would aquire SO many. What if they decide they don't want them? What if they breed them and can't sell babies and get overrun? Is anyone else seeing this? I am keeping my herd at no more than twenty-thirty until I am retired and can devote all my time to them. Maybe I am just nuts but I feel like this is a really dangerous trend that is developing and people should do more research or stay at one for awhile before getting an entire breeding herd without knowing much of anything.

-Andrea

[Megan.]

I have seen this more and more lately.

I think part of the reason is they see that for instance, Ranchers have 200+, and are respected. I'm wondering if they feel if they have that many, they too would be respected? Not taking into consideration ranchers get their respect because of what they offer to us "hobby" breeders and pet owners.

I do see more and more people starting off with many chinchilla's, instead of one or two to make sure they like them.

I want to keep my herd around 25 animals for now--Because I don't know where my life will take me at this time; and want to keep it small enough that I can manage with them...when I have a great job, the space, time money, ect then maybe I will expand. I am happy with 20 animals now; plus the few that are coming to finish off my breeding herd.

[TheChinClique]

Well I actually saw something in the classifieds the other day that was like "I want a female I don't care what kind as long as it can be bred and I want it CHEAP". That really concerned me. I have seen the trend expanding but that seems a bit extreme to me. If you don't have the money for great breeding stock and a nice set-up and vet care ect. then you should not breed. I am glad I am not the only one who is seeing this. I do not respect these people who are hoarding animals without aquiring proper knowledge first. It really makes me pretty upset. I hope people do not sell to those who place ads like that.

-Andrea

I have seen this more and more lately.

I think part of the reason is they see that for instance, Ranchers have 200+, and are respected. I'm wondering if they feel if they have that many, they too would be respected? Not taking into consideration ranchers get their respect because of what they offer to us "hobby" breeders and pet owners.

I do see more and more people starting off with many chinchilla's, instead of one or two to make sure they like them.

I want to keep my herd around 25 animals for now--Because I don't know where my life will take me at this time; and want to keep it small enough that I can manage with them...when I have a great job, the space, time money, ect then maybe I will expand. I am happy with 20 animals now; plus the few that are coming to finish off my breeding herd.

[lilchinchilla]

Wow, that sucks. I haven't really noticed but then I seldom look at how many chins people have or how long they've been here. :dunno:
I do hope that people take the time to think responsibly about how many chins they truly can look after, care for, and keep. Sadly, no you aren't going to always sell every chin you breed, and sometimes people don't know where they will end up later on, as surprises do hit out of nowhere sometimes and force people to have to sell their herds.
I gave alot of thought over the last years before getting as many chins as I have now, and I'd hope others would too. For me, it means no family vacations that last more than a day or two. Like I could have gone to Maui this month but nooo, I am here.
However, I would give up all the vacations and trips for my chins anytime. They are like my kids to me.

Anywho. Not sure who this thread is about, but just speaking in general. I have kits I kept here, I could not sell(no one wanted them), in some ways it was lucky for me as it gave me an opportunity to show them and find out they were much more valuable than what I would have sold them for anywho.
But I have the space to keep those kits who don't sell. Others need to make sure they do too.

[FantasyChins]

I have to say that I am fairly new to chinnies, and I have a decent sized breeding herd. However, I have researched them heavily, and I've spent a lot of money getting the best chinnies I can get. I currently have 14 chinnies for the breeding program, though most are kits, and I have three more kits coming soon.

[TheChinClique]

If you did research then I am definitely NOT aiming this towards a crowd like yourself. I am talking about those that hoard pet quality animals and breed them. Or those who never go to a vet because they want to keep buying more animals. Or those who want to impress us with their large herd because it makes them seem elite, only we know they are irresponsible. I am just sick of seeing THAT. I am sick of seeing animals die off because of complete disregard for taking up responsibility. I am sick of ignorant pet owners. Selling your herd and getting them all good homes, fine. Aquiring a huge herd taking horrible care of them and then deciding you don't want them because you find you don't like them NOT FINE! Sorry if I get a bit flamey I am just really pissed at the current situation in chin buying and selling. Some sellers need to be more careful and some buyers need to be more aware.

-Andrea


I have to say that I am fairly new to chinnies, and I have a decent sized breeding herd. However, I have researched them heavily, and I've spent a lot of money getting the best chinnies I can get. I currently have 14 chinnies for the breeding program, though most are kits, and I have three more kits coming soon.

[Megan.]

Some sellers need to be more careful and some buyers need to be more aware.


I totally agree!! I see some breeders who are getting business and wonder what people are thinking...then I see some people selling to some people and shake my head..and wonder - Do peopel even care anymore?

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

This is NOT a new trend. People have been stupid and done this type of thing since the beginning of time. Just my humble opinion.

[TheChinClique]

I guess I feel like it was a trend before but now it is getting trendy. Sure, there were a few people out there breeding chinchillas irresponsibly 10 years ago, but think of how those numbers have increased. It happens with every pet. Will what happened with rats, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, ect happen with chinchillas as far as overrun shelters go? I actually almost had to give up my mom's guinea pigs because she refused to care for them, but after seeing an overrun shelter I put some money aside so I am now keeping them. I would really hate to see this happen with chinnies, but it seems like the trendiness of getting all these chins and breeding them right away without education could very well cause that.

-Andrea

[SIChins]

I have seen so much of this lately too, I have seen people go from 2 chins to 40 or more in no time. I try to steer clear of selling my babies to people who do that, or that have more chins than I think they can give proper attention to. I keep my numbers around 25, and that way the chins all get one on one time daily, which they love, and people comment on how tame and laid back the chins are that they get from me.
The ones that bother me, is when I sell chins to someone who has 2, 3 or 4 chins, then in 6 months they are in the 30's or 40's, and they start passing chins off that they no longer want, one after the other.