My snakes go from feeding mode into handling mode when I pick them up. It usually takes them at least 24 hours without handling to get back into a real feeding mode again. I would not handle a day or two before the feeding. I'd also try feeding late at night, around 10 PM or so. If I try to feed in the morning or in the middle of the day hardly any of my snakes will eat. But late at night they almost all eat!