I recently adopted 2 young degus. They are not even both full-grown yet, and are both males. I have been trying to socialize them but I keep getting bitten whenever I pick them up... and of course it hurts with those sharp little rodent teeth! I have tried picking them up with a cloth and even a glove but they manage to bite through those, too! I do not like getting bitten- but how do I get them accustomed to being nice?
They are somewhat friendly. Both of them will take food from my hand and when I put my hand in their cage just to feed them or change their water, they do run up to me and smell me. But when I try to touch them or pet them they run away.
They sing and chirp and I try to talk to them a lot along with spending some of my free time in front of their cage talking to them and letting them sniff my hands.

Right now they shouldn't be picked up at all, actually. Start by letting them out in a small enclosed area (degu-proof room, walk-in closet, bathtub, hallway, etc.), let them come to you. Don't grab for them or restrain them, if you must pick them up scoop them up in a container.