feeding baby pigeons

Question
i have two orphaned babys and i need to feed them i have the formula and a syringe .how do you get the beak open without hurting the baby it seems cruel to do this and yet i know they have to eat? any help would be grateful  peace

Answer
Hi, Mars,

It isn't cruel at all to open the beak with your fingers far enough to insert the end of the syringe in their mouth in order to administer the handfeeding formula.  It would be cruel NOT to do this in order to nourish them.  They may not take to this at first, but after once or twice, they will be eager to eat.  I gently pry the upper and lower mandibles open, insert the syringe, push the food into the crop, and the birds are fed!  After a while, they will be very glad to see you because they know they are going to be fed.

Chrys