Hand rearing advice

[Carla]

Local pet shop had a budgie abandoned so I took it in as I have kept budgies before (not a breeder) whilst I was on my way to collect, I was told that it looks like the mother bird had thrown out the chick and had left the nest. I told them to put the chick back in the nest and leave until I got there.
Returned home and the mother was attacking the baby and threw on the floor again. I have removed the baby from the cage and have been feeding it with budgie rearing food. I have been feeding every 2 -3 hours but want to double check this is right and do I continue this throughout the night? Or is there a break?
Never had to look after a baby so young. Looks to be 2 days old definitely in its first week of life.
mum looks skinny but is eating and drinking well, once isolation is done and she has been fed up she will be going in the large flight enclosure with my others. Obviously with no nest boxes!

 

[Carla]

Images of baby

 

[Zara]

Hi Carla,

Monitor the chick, watch the crop; when the crop is almost empty feed the little one (it will literally be a drop of food at this point). Use a clock to time between feeds so you get a rough idea of how long between feeds. When approaching the next feed, check in a little earlier just in case the crop emptied quicker than expected.
The chick should always have a small amount in his crop, except for one time (at night) you allow it to completely empty, though at this age, they need feeding through the night.

An important note, that for the first 5-7 days of life, the chicks formula ratio changes, depending on brand some change daily, so check your formula instructions. Use a celendar or diary to help you keep track.

If the other eggs hatch, remember to allow the yolk sac to fully absorb before any food is given. You can watch it being absorbed through the skin on the "belly" (not crop).