Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
What do you all consider small size, average size, and large size? Where do your chins fall into place?
Jessica
Jessica
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Sycamore Chins
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Small: under 650
Medium/Average: 650-850
Large: 850+
I've got two small males, but they DON'T throw their size. One is actually under 600 grams - but he's got everything else going for him.
Most of my chins are average, 13 out of 18. And 3/18 are large. One of the average males will likely jump into the large category if I don't put him in breeding to keep him busy!
But the one thing that comes up the most as a reason my animals can't compete for higher awards is size. We're working on that, slowly but surely. It's hard to do with such a small herd (18 breeding animals and that includes 4 offspring from last year that we're adding into the herd - a 28% increase in numbers!), not to mention we don't have them all in breeding at the same time.
Medium/Average: 650-850
Large: 850+
I've got two small males, but they DON'T throw their size. One is actually under 600 grams - but he's got everything else going for him.
Most of my chins are average, 13 out of 18. And 3/18 are large. One of the average males will likely jump into the large category if I don't put him in breeding to keep him busy!
But the one thing that comes up the most as a reason my animals can't compete for higher awards is size. We're working on that, slowly but surely. It's hard to do with such a small herd (18 breeding animals and that includes 4 offspring from last year that we're adding into the herd - a 28% increase in numbers!), not to mention we don't have them all in breeding at the same time.
kathiva
Kathiva La Diva
Myself, I was considering large something like 750-850 grams, and then extra large anything over that, such as chins that are 900 to 1000 grams or more.
Spoof
Kung Fu Chinny!
I haven't gone by weight in years, I go more by body type as in a narrow chin is more likely to come across as small to me than a blocky one.
They also naturally fluctuate in weight a lot.
Large is 950+
Too small < 500g
Not sure where mine fall, haven't weighed anyone in a very long time. I could say they are too large to get into the holes but I have one male that was 740ish and too wide to get into a hole, even with a step up block. Maybe I'll pull the scale out tonight and make a nice graph. Could take some pictures while I'm at it, haven't done that in awhile.
)
I'm sure the actual weights are all over the place.
They also naturally fluctuate in weight a lot.
Large is 950+
Too small < 500g
Not sure where mine fall, haven't weighed anyone in a very long time. I could say they are too large to get into the holes but I have one male that was 740ish and too wide to get into a hole, even with a step up block. Maybe I'll pull the scale out tonight and make a nice graph. Could take some pictures while I'm at it, haven't done that in awhile.
)I'm sure the actual weights are all over the place.
RDZCRanch
RavenousDeadlyZombieChins
I also do not go by weight since the majority of what I consider my large chinchillas don't weigh over 800g, but they are bigger than 800g chinchillas I have seen. I have a 950g chinchilla that I would consider average sized that has to have a collar on to keep her out of the run. In the cage next to her is a female that only weighs about 850g, but is much larger and can't fit in even my three pronged collars and definitely can't fit in the run hole.
I stopped going by weight for size when I went to enough shows and brought home animals larger than my 800g animals at home, only to find they weighed less. Weight isn't everything and I've found too much emphasis is put on it here.
The only thing I've found consistent between weight and size are chins that are 600g or below. The only 600g thing I have in breeding is an exceptional bv male that has already thrown one GSC twice his size. I can probably say I wouldn't breed a female too far under 700g because it is far too easy to lose size.
I stopped going by weight for size when I went to enough shows and brought home animals larger than my 800g animals at home, only to find they weighed less. Weight isn't everything and I've found too much emphasis is put on it here.
The only thing I've found consistent between weight and size are chins that are 600g or below. The only 600g thing I have in breeding is an exceptional bv male that has already thrown one GSC twice his size. I can probably say I wouldn't breed a female too far under 700g because it is far too easy to lose size.
Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
Thanks everyone!
I normally weigh my animals and find that most are just average..but to look at them they look bigger. I've got one girl that if you were to look at her she looks to weigh about 900 but when you pick her up your fingers just sink right into her fur and she weighs 720 grams....and she's not skinny. I was second guessing myself on size.
Jessica
I normally weigh my animals and find that most are just average..but to look at them they look bigger. I've got one girl that if you were to look at her she looks to weigh about 900 but when you pick her up your fingers just sink right into her fur and she weighs 720 grams....and she's not skinny. I was second guessing myself on size.
Jessica
Spoof
Kung Fu Chinny!
Everyone was just super thrilled with tonight's activities.
Given the mutations I experiment with with I've always considered my animal size on the small side, but weight wise they're all pretty heavy.
High: 1043
Avg: 777.38
Low: 569
The two "pure standards" I have are the smallest animals in my herd by a lot. The smaller of the two is a turd and has been slotted for replacement since spring. Just got to find one.
Chins in the photos are the largest female @1043g and the male that can't get into the hole @ 757g. I think they look close in size.
Given the mutations I experiment with with I've always considered my animal size on the small side, but weight wise they're all pretty heavy.
High: 1043
Avg: 777.38
Low: 569
The two "pure standards" I have are the smallest animals in my herd by a lot. The smaller of the two is a turd and has been slotted for replacement since spring. Just got to find one.
Chins in the photos are the largest female @1043g and the male that can't get into the hole @ 757g. I think they look close in size.
Since you mentioned it - I just realized mine will be a 100% increase when I open last year's babies, closer to 125% when the beat up girls heal. Yikes!
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EMSChins
Hendryx Chinchillas
I consider anything under 600-650 small but like others I feel that body type has a lot to do with it. My average would be 750 to 850 and my larges are 850-900. I have a couple of 8 month olds that are already at 850 and one at almost 900, so they could potentially get even bigger - I am hoping so as my ebony males need some big girls since they are on the little side.
I do have 2 XD ebony males and they look idential in size but one is 575 gms and the other is 650. You can only tell the difference when you pick them up.
I do have 2 XD ebony males and they look idential in size but one is 575 gms and the other is 650. You can only tell the difference when you pick them up.
