Jen, I have wondered the same thing about my babies! It is just me and my husband so I wonder if that has anything to do with it. I have always blamed the fact that they were feral and even though they were pretty young when I got them in I think some of that is inbred. Sammy and Leroy are very social and they really weren't raised any different from the others. I think their mama's early lessons on fear just never leave them. I have often wondered if I had tried harder to socialize them with other people that maybe they wouldn't be so chicken. I did on several occasions try to bring them into a room where it was just my mother. I told her to speak quietly but when I carried Pete (the most layed back) into the room he saw her and ripped my arm and shoulder to peices getting away. I don't know if there is really anything that we could do any different. I have come to the conclusion that what is taught to them by their mothers in the first few weeks of life can never really be broken. I don't think so anyway. I think they may learn to relax a little but that nervousness and fear is always close to the surface. These are just my conclusions but they make sense to me when I watch my babies. They are feral but they have never been harmed by a human so it has nothing to do with that.
Let's blame their MAMA'S!! It seems to be the thing to do in this day and age anyway, doesn't it???