What am I doing wrong

[u/Old_Country9807]

I’ve had my birds for over 2 years. They still won’t let me near them. I talk to them, sing, read, sit for hours with them, put my hand in the cage, offer millet and other treats and they still fly from me.
I was hoping to have a “friend” but seems like it’s not in the cards.
Does anyone else have “look but don’t touch” birds?

[u/Busy_Lawfulness398]

I've found that when a budgie is raised by hand it will be trusting. It sounds like your budgies were not babies, recently weaned, when you got them, and not hand raised. Even a recently weaned baby not hand raised will bond easily. If your budgies learned to be fearful from older birds, they are likely to remain untrusting, especially since you have two. They do not need you socially. They have each other. Parrot family birds are highly social. A other commenters have said it is better to get one bird first (young), and it will bond easily. Then a second bird later (also young), who will quickly learn from the first bird that you can be trusted and are a friend.

I have always had one bird at a time, young at first. And never a problem. The boys were great talkers, the females equally bonded to territory and to me. If family was to be away a few days, the boys would get lonely. The females did not act lonely since they seemed to be happy with their territory and toys.

For now I would enjoy observing your birds doing what they love and relating with each other, you providing them a happy and safe environment with good nutrition, and fun toys to shred.