Unkind But True: There are "Schizo" Birds out there

It makes me sad to say, but some budgies just haven't worked out. It is quite clear to our readers that both Lola and Mia are gone. I feel guilty and sad about that, but neither of them adjusted to the flock. Lola (pictured on the L, closest to the nestbox) was one of the first two budgies I have had, since she and Sutcliffe were purchased from the "Budgie bin" at a PetSmart at the same time, almost three years ago. She was very young, or at least, very small, and her wings had been severly clipped. Sutcliffe also had been severly clipped, but he was a bit larger, and a bit less crippled by it than Lola. Perhaps this was why she was always nervous and skittish. Sutcliffe gradually learned to eat millett seed while I was holding it, but Lola never learned to ever be comfortable with "the hand". She was pretty much untrainable. Mary ann was mean to her. Mia (pictured to the R) was also exceedingly skittish. She was so terrified of a hand in the cage that she would flap with crazy vigor to the point where she would fall off the perch. She was so terrified, she was at risk of hurting herself whenever a hand came near her.

Are some birds virtually unable to become comfortable around humans? If we were not around, would Lola and Mia found a good role in the flock? Or were they just too damn crazy to every be a happy or a part of things, due perhaps to inbreeding? I hope they are both very happy as "only birds" wherever they may now be. I know that Lola was adopted by a very loving family via Craig's list. I don't know what has happened to Mia--I'm afraid to ask the Ringo adopters, as they really didn't want to keep her but we couldn't take five budgies in our rental apartment. I really wish that both of them have happy lives. I wonder if this is the kind of thing that is not uncommon ("Schizo" budgies?). Since we have had two, it seems possible. Notably, both of them were from "Budgie bins".

Mia the Lovely and Untame

Mia is a lovely bird. She is from a budgie bin, and was in a tiny cage full of "rare budgies". There is really no such thing as a rare budgie, she is simply a budgie that is unusual looking. We don't know yet if Mia is female or male. She seems rather young and it may be too soon to tell. She is not terribly picked on, other than a bit by Boo, who is a bit stroppy because she is 1.so adored 2. so fearless and 3. a teenager. The others tolerate, and sometimes (especially, Magoo and Sutcliffe) even like her. Because the male, and possible male like her, we are guessing she is a She.

Perhaps it is inbreeding, or perhaps, life in a budgie bin, but, Mia, like Lola, is a very skittish bird. She is virtually untame-able, at least so far. By this time, Sutcliffe was eating out of our hands. Not Mia! Any human presence near the cage results in frantic flying, and even falling off a perch. If she is caught, she screams bloody murder, really alarming to the other budgies. But, she is indeed a great beauty.