So, today I cleaned the cages and played with Boca and Spanky, talked to Libby and played music for her to dance to.
A typical day.
I love watching the Budgies play, bicker and cuddle each other.
As I'm watching this bonded pair, I get this bright idea that I am going to work with them. Soo, I get Rosie out and...she bit me so hard it drew blood. O.K. - That didn't work sooo, I try Eric... He grabbed on and wouldn't let go.
Now I have blood dripping from three fingers and the soft area between thumb and index finger. I swear those little stinkers bite harder than Libby.
How stupid can I be?

I have had many Budgies over the years.
I am ashamed to admit that these are the first that I have not taken the time to socialize.
These are also the first bonded pair I have had.

I am shocked! - Hey You! - You're giving the sweet Budgie a bad name!

This is how I see it - that probably you haven't been too focused on them for a while if for very long - ever. I know you are a pretty busy person with quite a few responsibilities in the bird department. You have 2 Budgies that pretty much keep each other company & other wise don't give you grief.

If I am too busy & leave the Budgie lads to themselves Laker gets huffy, even sulky, a bit wild & yes will be a bit nippy. In fact if I come into the room I talk to them individually for little while before offering a hand for step-up.

Laker is a gentle fellow overall so even when he bites he doesn't do so to hurt me. Rio is way more aggressive & will not back down to the point of leaning backwards on his perch - defending his 'position'. [this happens when I want them to share something & Rio wants to hog it all & I try to push him away] Rio will bite but again it is more of a 'hold on' with lots of cursing. Both lads do a lot of open mouth gesturing if angry. They usually stop if we laugh - then they think it over - so far.

SO I guess you got your lesson in Budgies are Parrots too & so require just as much time as the big guys to train & get lovey-dovey [in our case hair barrettes] but no touching .... & they take offense easily & can be territorial.

I've been noticing that with Rio demanding more attention Laker is much more quiet. ~ I think this coming week I'll spend more time with him & see if he's kind of 'sad' or whatever. Thanks for making me think about his behaviour more.

I think we need a bleeding smiley, the story is funny, I know really bad to laugh at anothers pain.

I'll be over with band-aids! I agree that those little guys can bite harder than the big ones! At least with a big beak one can grab hold of it! ha! Best to let those two enjoy each other! ha!

I've heard that they can have a mean bite although my boys have never gotten me hard (Winston has never bitten me and Jerry only has if I've antagonized him while he's too wound up)

I think you can work with them - but only on their terms. Meaning let them come to you and no hands on unless they say so. Their trust really has to be earned. First try winning them over with food and have them fly to your hand or hop on your hand. Have short sessions of that and allow them to be together. Once one is brave enough to go to you then the other probably will too (regarding curiosity they're like cats!).

Thanks for the advice Sarah.
I started today...one at a time.
My fingers feel like a hundred pins have been stuck in them.
Eric is more responsive than Rosie. He actually came and sat on the open cage door right in front of me.
Think I will just do this for a while. Just sit in front of the cage with the door open.

That's the perfect place to start! It's all about the baby steps when you have an unsure budgie (or two)

My mom's budgie used to bite really hard. She was a female. but my boys don't bite at all. I have heard that female budgies tend to bite more than males. I don't know if that is true or not.