The Next Step in Bonding

After a couple of weeks, Nettie and Bubs are excited when I approach the cage and meet me at the opening enthusiastically. They'll step out onto my hand with their front feet (Bubs will climb all the way on) to take the treat and then retreat back into their hide. They eat or store the treat and then run back to the opening for more. My confusion is how to move onto the next step of taking them away from their cage to hold them, play, etc. I don't want to move them or pick them up when they step onto my hand for a treat. I feel like that sort of surprise might scare them and make them regress in their progress. I was thinking of maybe using treats to bait them further up my arm or to my shoulder, but I know that would only go as far as them taking the treat and running back to their cage. I'm very excited at how much progress they've made and how they greet me. I want to progress further, but I'd be heartbroken if I scared them into fearing me again.
What should I do next?

If you do not want to pick them up, you could use a box etc that they can get into and then be transported out of the cage, put your arm into the cage and allow them to walk up your arm onto your shoulder, or put a ramp etc on their cage so they can (supervised by you) venture out to the safe play area (such as a bed or couch) where you can interact.

If you feel comfortable doing it, you might want to pick them up using two hands so they are well supported and then put them on you (wear a tight fitting shirt with a loose shirt over it and put both rats on you between the 2 shirts) for 20 to 30 mins at a time.
You might also check joinrats.com to see if they have any ideas that you feel comfortable with.

SQ said:

If you do not want to pick them up, you could use a box etc that they can get into and then be transported out of the cage, put your arm into the cage and allow them to walk up your arm onto your shoulder, or put a ramp etc on their cage so they can (supervised by you) venture out to the safe play area (such as a bed or couch) where you can interact.

If you feel comfortable doing it, you might want to pick them up using two hands so they are well supported and then put them on you (wear a tight fitting shirt with a loose shirt over it and put both rats on you between the 2 shirts) for 20 to 30 mins at a time.
You might also check joinrats.com to see if they have any ideas that you feel comfortable with.

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Thank you! I'll give it a shot.

I'd put them on my bed or couch with me and let them run around while I watch TV, I hold bits of treats in my fingers (like 1/2 or 1/4 cheerios) and let them take them without me moving (I just laugh and say "Good boy" or something - I think they recognize laughter is good, and associate my voice with the treats). Use a box to transport like SQ says, or if your cage is mobile put it by the bed or couch so they can come & go as they please. They'll gradually get braver and in time I can touch when they take a treat.. then pat... I've had great success with shoulder rides while I walk around (makes me the familiar thing in unfamiliar places maybe?), I'd take them both at once..

I'm laying in bed right now with their cage on the floor next to it, the doors open and there's a ladder going from their door to my bed. I'm waiting with a bag of treats for them to venture out

Update: Nettie is on the bed! I'm very excited. Trying my best not to spoil her but she had a long day at the vet and now she's making progress.

Petition to start running Rattie PSA's on television so everyone knows how sweet they are?

lol That's great news! Looks like you'll be cuddling with them in no time.

Hope she soon realizes you just want to love her!

Update:
Nettie and Bubs are doing so much better. They come to the end of the cage when I approach it and will crawl up my sleeved arm for treats and sometimes it them on my shoulder. If not they scamper back into the cage and the process repeats. They are somewhat comfortable being petted but I know the boundaries are tested. I want to help transition them with being a bit more comfortable on my body and around me. Also, they still hate being picked up and will only crawl on me if they're directly chasing a treat. My question is what can I do to help this process without retarding what's already been achieved? Thank you!

Sounds like progress! What I did with my skittish ones, I would use my two hands and scoop them, just like you would scoop running water. I would scoop them, bring them to my face, kiss their backs and put them back down and offer a treat. I made sure the distance of the scoop to my face was very short. Short burst of loving, several times a day. But I could not do this with all of them. Some of them I noticed was not helpful while others reacted very positively to it. Another thing you could try that many of us have done, put on a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt over top, place little munchkins in between on you with some treats, keep them there for about an hour, read a book , watch TV. A dark sweatshirt would be better to block out the big bad world. They will come to relate your smell, to comfy cozy place. The reason we say two shirts, because they might very well go potty on you. joinrats.com has more great tips and tricks for positive reinforcement for rats.