That's basically what ball pythons do; hide.

Just me, but I wouldn't handle him at all until he is fully transitioned. Some snakes will not and never will eat in front of people, it is a very vulnerable state for them.
Don't lift his hide, just put the rat right in front of the hide, cut your light off and you can even leave the room, and let him eat. If hes out, see if he'll strike and if not just sit the rat somewhere in the cage, if he's hungry he'll eat it.