Vulnerable babies.

[adamanteus]

Maybe it's like the failure to thrive in some of them.

Yes, Steve, I think you have it there. Of course, Garters are heavily predated in nature, especially when very young. So the mortality rate is very high. It's as if some of the babies are 'decoys', to give the stronger individuals a better chance, no doubt these weaker, more 'stupid' individuals are the first to fall prey.
After six weeks though, I would hope they'd got passed the suicidal stage.

[Stefan-A]

Yes, Steve, I think you have it there. Of course, Garters are heavily predated in nature, especially when very young. So the mortality rate is very high. It's as if some of the babies are 'decoys', to give the stronger individuals a better chance, no doubt these weaker, more 'stupid' individuals are the first to fall prey.

Well, they're definitely more likely to fall prey than the rest, but I fail to see how that would benefit the others. Unless they're hiding in the same place and that 'tarded baby is worse than its siblings at escaping when a predator comes along, if that's what you meant with "decoy". Then the others obviously benefit from having a dumb one in the litter.

I know gulls usually produce three eggs, of which the last one is normally significantly smaller than the first two, and sort of functions as a backup in case one of the normal sized chicks dies. Doesn't make sense to apply the same logic to garters, since they aren't raised by their parents. But then again, maybe it does, if they're competing for food the same way that gull chicks do.

[adamanteus]

Well, they're definitely more likely to fall prey than the rest, but I fail to see how that would benefit the others.

Well, the local predator would have a full belly for a couple more days.

[Stefan-A]

Well, the local predator would have a full belly for a couple more days.

Better to not feed it at all?