Ending size of babies to adults from litters of multiples

[chechinchillas]

Do you think or have you noticed that kits do not grow as large into adulthood from litters of multiples verses a single litter birth (from the same parents)? Or has this not been the case for you? I know single litter babies can be larger, but I am questioning their ending size as an adult.

 

[Danderson]

I have not experienced that. The single babies do seem to be larger when born and grow faster but in the end they don't seem to be any larger than what would be expected from that particular chin. I MUCH prefer single babies though because they just seem so chunky and healthy.....

 

[Spoof]

I haven't noticed a difference in adult size if the line throws consistent.

Sometimes lines throw inconsistent conformation/traits but you can see the differences throughout their growth.

 

[jags]

After tracking birth weights and litter sizes in comparison to adult size and weight for about 20 years and thousands of kits I find no real relationship. Each kit regardless of birth weight or litter size will grow to its own individual size. I have had huge single kits that grow like crazy for a short time and then stop before ever becoming of great size, others continue to grow and become very large. I have had tiny kits from very large litters become huge as adults or some that remain very small. Seems to be very little reasoning to it.

 

[mishalaa]

I have had one litter of quads, and while one did not make it (not the runt, either - the runt ended up being the biggest adult), the remaining three grew larger than most of my other chins.

So I do not believe litter size has much if any bearing on size attained as an adult.

 

[Vyxxin]

While I'm not big on weight tracking into adulthood these days...I can say I have two adult females in breeding that are 850g, and 1000g NOT pregnant. Both are from litters of triplets. I feel that there is little to no correlation between birth size/litter size and adult weight.

 

[starleomach]

I do not find anything either

 

[poetrue]

I have not seen a correlation that large litter size will mean smaller ending adult size. My largest litter was of sextuplets and all of those that lived turned out to be very large chinchillas (all 800+grams), even though they were all born in the 30-40gram range. I find that the smaller litters usually have larger kits that gain faster than perhaps they would have had they been from a litter of triplets or quads, but in the end they turn out to be similar sized adults.

Cheryl

 

[Anne-Lise]

SAme thing here. I have a tan girl at 900g that's from triplets.

 

[ChinchillasByDesign]

Size is a gene issue (normally). They will either be born with the genes to be large or born with the genes to be smaller.

 

[Terbear24]

I believe that it is all in the genetics! I dont see any correlation between litter size and adult size.

 

[designer chins]

I prefer small litters because I don't like kits arguing & competing and the small litters seem to get off to a faster start. I like strong early growth, particularly for MCBA shows where there is the under 7 months old class. Long term, adults from large litters have averaged the same as adults from small litters. I do try very hard to select for females with excellent milk production so no matter what the litter size, everyone gains well.