Just came across your thread, and was so thrilled to find it! My male, Lucky, was the only survivor in a shipment from the hatchery amongst 11 dead girls, but they did replace them, and all was well. But Lucky and I bonded as he was my baby those first couple weeks til the others arrived, and he definitely thinks I'm his main mum. Now that he is grown, he has his own life with his 6 wives, but he still wants to come to me and be petted and held, but the girls call him back. But they all will follow me in the yard, as he is the leader and tells them what to do. Such is life! I agree with you, you must handle them a lot when they are young, and I mean a lot, to get them to imprint and bond with you, and socialize them as well. The more people you get to handle them, the better. Yours are so well behaved, you are very fortunate to have them, and surely if they breed when you find them suitable mates, their offspring may carry on that characteristic. Hopefully you can make some money off of their ventures so they can earn their keep, maybe get a property somewhere where you can have many others. You deserve it. And don't listen to others who criticize. You do your thing. We need more people in the world like you who care so very much about living things.