Just sounds like you have a playful kit on your hands there. This is why I often suggest older ferrets to someone looking to buy their first ferret. At that young age they are at a playful and nippy. Kittens and puppies are just the same. They have to be taught right from wrong. You must take the place of their mother and show them what is exceptable for you. It just takes time and patience to get them out of the habit. Just happens that ferrets can bite a lot harder. Watching my two play with each other I feel very fragile in comparison.

The leaping you described sounds like a playful ferret doing his war-dance. Not meaning he is a war with you, but he's happy! My boy Laurel is a nutter (he is like Peter Pan, he never grew up!) constantly wanting to play and war-dancing around bouncing off things leaping on his brother and me. He used to bite quite hard as a kit, but I would scruff say a firm "NO!" (not shouting though) and as has already been suggested drag him along the carpet for a second or two. His brother has mellowed with age (they are 18 months old now) Laurel is still as playful and bouncy, pouncy as he ever was! However, I set the groundrules at play time. When I am playing with them, I usually use a dangly toy, or their favourite waving a piece of tissue paper around they love the sound! If I play with my hands, Paws are the only arsenal of their's that is allowed. Biting is NOT exceptable. It won't work if you say it is ok in one circumstance but not another. Especially, with a young kit. Laurel learned quickly that he can open his mouth and even pull my fingers into it, but he won't close his mouth and make a "bite".

Nowdays, when they are biting each other in play, if they decide to include me they treat me like I'm so fragile! It amuses me. The only issue I have is with Hardy. He can't resist toes or eyebrows and will take a hold. He is worse with other people than he is with me (might be more of a combination that I am expecting it more and he will get scruffed and dragged, where as with other people he tends to get away with it. By the time I find out he has scarpered!) usually he bites softly at first and then increases the pressure if he doesn't get a reaction. You have to catch him quick and reprimand immediately afterwards. There is no point in my running after him after he has grabbed someone's toes and then run away and scruff and drag him because he won't associate it with the toe-biting, for example.

As for the comment feeding raw will make them vicious that is complete stuff and nonsense! An old wife's tale, nothing more. Ferret's teeth are designed to slice and tear at raw flesh rather than crunch up biscuits. Mine get their ferret complete mix ad lib but also have various raw food sources as well. Rabbit, chicks, mice, as whole and pieces of chicken including bones (but only when raw. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious problems), beef mince (a favourite), raw egg, pretty much everything except pork. Only because that is fatty meat. They much prefer the raw food to the ferret biscuits! The tendons and bones are also great for flossing ferret teeth and keeping them in tip-top condition.

As for Ferretone that stuff is a god send! I couldn't be without it! A squirt on the belly and nail-clipping is a breeze! I look back and have no idea how I managed to clip nails without the stuff! It's definitely up there in my ferret-owning arsenal! Also great for getting them to do the things up want! There re-call is pretty good and very handy when they are playing hide and seek with me! I know they will come when they are called for some ferretone!

Basically, it is just going to take time and patience on your part. It might be a good idea to get him a ferret friend around the same age (even from the same litter if possible) so that he has someone he can rough and tumble with! It will make him a lot calmer when being handled by yourself as he will have been keeping himself amused with a friend when you weren't there and won't rely solely upon you for interaction. Of course, I would advise getting another hob to avoid pregnancy, and you will have to get them both neutered to avoid fighting when they reach sexual maturity. My pair started to get rough with each other at about a year old coming into the "breeding season". Once they were neutered however calmness (ok not the right choice of word when speaking of ferrets! But, they were friends again) was restored.