- Know what the buyers are looking at by observing them during a buying session.
- Animals must be conditioned before pelting, much like they are when preparing them for a show.
- Good sanitation practices are a 'must' in producing a good coat.
- Bring coats to prime before pelting.
- Do not allow animals to get overly fat as it downgrades the leather under the fur.
- 'Prime fur' means that there is no hair growth. Blowing the fur is the usual method for determining 'prime'.
- Chinchillas under a proper environment will reach their first 'full prime' at 8 to 12 months of age and one to two times a year thereafter.
- Priming on an animal does not occur at the same time in all areas so it should be pelted when the major portion of the coat is in full prime.
- Pelting is not difficult; however, proper instruction and practice are required to be able to pelt correctly.
- Be sure to identify pelts by correctly attaching identification tags.
- Dressed pelts will withstand shipping better than will raw pelts.
- Pelts should be sorted into matched bundles for shipping.