It also depends on the locale. My BCC female is ok when out of the enclosure but I need to use the hook to get her out to avoid being bitten.
The head trick we use on giant constrictors to calm them works good for feisty boas as well... While holding the snake in your lap or on the floor, bring your hand slowly up it's neck, from behind it's head, down over the face. Barely touching it the entire time. Slightly cup your hand over the front of the face. Do it slowly and gently. It should pause and then slowly back away from your hand, tongue flicking.
Do this every time it gets flighty, or nervous. Remains in strike position, or you otherwise want to calm the snake and assure it there is no danger.
This calms them, gets them out of strike mode, helps with head-shy jerkiness, and helps them get use to your scent faster.
Works wonders on Burms and Retics but also on Boas. As long as your movements are slow and direct, just about any bad mood can be curbed.
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