Hi Bushsnuffler
Brilliant that you have built a new hog house – looks very de-luxe!
I can’t help feeling, though, that it isn’t a good idea to cover it completely with waterproof material. Several reasons for this.
There could potentially be problems with condensation, as with a plastic box. That could have the effect of making the wood rot more quickly.
Hogs have been building hibernation nests for millions of years without our help. Hog boxes are just structures within which the hogs have the opportunity to build their hibernacula. (useful when spaces in the wild have become more scarce). But their hibernacula, when properly built would be waterproof anyway, because of the layering of the leaves. They are likely to completely fill a hog box, so that they are insulated on all sides. So whilst I would put on a waterproof roof, there is no need for the sides to be waterproof as well. More natural if the wood can ‘breathe’.
When it comes to cleaning out the hog house, the plastic waterproofing would need to be removed anyway, so that boiling water could be used to kill an potential parasite eggs in the cracks between the wood.
Just my thoughts.
