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Hello everyone.

I have two budgies, Cricket and Pepper. Cricket is the boss, but Pepper has been learning to stand up for himself. Pepper is a male and we believe Cricket is also, but no one is sure.
When Pepper's first companion, Pogo, passed away, he became quite tame and bonded with me. Unfortunately, I am in high school, so I felt that it was not fair to leave him home with only toys for company. After I got Cricket, Pepper became much less bonded. He will still step up, but it takes a lot of coaxing. Whenever his flight feathers grow in, I still let him out of the cage as I know he will simply circle the room and land right back on top of it. Getting them reclipped is not as big of a concern.
Cricket, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. The little guy will not step up and will not sit on a finger for more than two seconds although this just might be part of his hyper personality. When his flight feathers grow in, I try to get them clipped again as soon as possible because I know he will not return to the cage on his own and will spend quite some time trying to get away from me.
Both of them are finally on an all pellet diet, and I know that is a very good thing.
Neither of them really play with toys. Very rarely do they touch them no matter where they are in the cage or what kind of toy it is.
Does anyone have any helpful advice? As budgie owners, you know how much these little guys can truly capture your heart.

My budgies are all bonded with one another and I am merely the hand that delivers the food, water and treats. I have quite a range of behavior with respect to toys. Some of them will play with anything and others are happy to just ignore the toys and watch the world go by. Sounds like you have a couple of happy, albeit different, fids!

I know what you mean about being the hand that delivers food and treats. My little ones certainly let me know when something has not been taken care of on time.
At least I know they're mostly normal with the bonding thing. As long as they have each other, they're fine.
When one is in another room, they call back and forth, and the one that is out tries to get back to the cage.

I have a budgie and he gets to come out of his cage as much as he wants when we are home in the evenings and weekends. He absolutly loves people and will play with anybody, stranger or not. I know he is probably lonely when he is alone but I do not want to lose this quality about him when bringing in a new bird as a friend. I have had 2 birds before and they would not separate or get close to me or other people.

Does anybody have any experience bringing in another bird and that bird learning it was fun to be friends with the humans from the old bird, and they both bond to people and also have eachother for the lonely times? Or will they most likely not do well with out each other once they form a bond regardles?

The reason budgies make such good pets, is that they are flock birds. In the wild they travel in huge flocks. If you add another budgie, chances are you will loose your pet to the "newbie" as you know birds of a feather!
Also, if you want your guy to talk, it will be harder, if not impossible to
get him to talk. I really feel that if you give them plenty of toys and stuff to chew on, they are quite capable of entertaining themselves. They will
nap in the afternoon too. I give my breeders toys, the ones with woven bamboo, and they destroy them in no time. You might also try the plastic budgies the have a ring that slips over the perch. Males will talk and court
these toys. Go figure!!!!!!! Their horny little devils. LOL