A new hatchling's body in poor condition, rejected live hoppers, spat out assist feed

[Lord Sorril]

I tried assist feeding a mouse pink and got the head down her throat twice, which she spat back out both times. Not sure what else I should be doing for this hatchling!

There are more invasive methods, but, this is what I do to force feed:

Take a pair of feeding tongs (with dull tips): Use your fingers and push the food item into the snakes mouth (head first of course) and then use the tongs/forceps to continue to GENTLY push the food item down the throat to the point that the snake can completely close its mouth. Put the snake back in its bin and then watch it. At this point there will be two possible outcomes: Option One: the snake swallows and you can rest easy for about three days on one pinky (larger prey is preferable). Option Two: The snake coils around the base and uses the muscles to expel the food item (which is not a true regurge-since it never made it to digestion). If the second option happens: Take a new food item and then repeat the process immediately, but, when it is in the throat: physically uncoil the body, and then use two fingers to gently massage the food item downward--when you can no longer see the prey lump defined---you are finished.

If you have never done this before it can very stressful for both of you. If you have practice doing this: It is quick and painless.