Hi there, I would have to say that you should be feeding once a week. You dont want to over feed and as for feeding live mice/rats I would definately switch to frozen. As your snake gets older the prey gets bigger if a large rat gets cornered and fights back you may have a vet bill on your hands. The earlier you start feeding frozen/thawed the easier it will be in the future. My ball is 2 1/2 and he eats every two weeks, when he was yonge he was only eating once a week. There digestive system is very slow. I thaw the rat in a ziplock in a dish of warm water that way when the snake goes for it its body temp is warm. Also, one other suggestion, not sure how you are feeding but I do not feed my snakes in there tanks. I take them outta there tanks and put them in a big rubbermaid. They are at the point now that when they are in the rubbermaid they know its feeding time, because that is the only reason they go in there. It also prevents them from mistaking your hand for food if you reach in there tank for whatever reason.
Good luck
RAZORBLADES&BANDAIDS