Hi Kitty878
No need to feel daft. Any structure you provide for the hogs will help them as there are not so many natural sites available to them these days. They will take into account what the structure is and build their nest accordingly. So outside they can make it waterproof, well insulated, etc. and may be likely to build it bigger – there might be more space. But they will also build their hibernacula in the hog box – some more effectively than others, no doubt! But to fit into the space available. But there’s no need to get too stressed if it leaks a tiny bit because a well built nest will be waterproof due to the layering of the leaves. But it’s probably helpful to them if it doesn’t leak – also for the ones who haven’t built their nest quite so well!
But basically, to a hog, a hog box is a structure within which they can build a nest or hibernaculum. But that doesn’t make it any less important – find another natural structure which would fit the bill so well!
Some hogs do like a bit of time before they accept a new hog house. But, the availability of nesting material is important too. If there is lots nearby they might be more likely to use the box/structure. But if the box is filled with nesting material some hogs will actually take nesting material out and choose their own. But it’s probably easier for them to build a really good hibernaculum if the actual nest building inside the box is left to them.
Don’t worry if they don’t use any boxes straight away or if they use them for other purposes. One hog here build the most amazing nest and he was only that year’s hoglet (started over the top of a food bowl, which luckily I managed to move when he was out – the box was being used as a feeding box at the time. Not something I recommend but the nest was in the very early stages of building and he continued to build it afterwards). Luckily for me the box was right in front of the camera, so I saw all the building material being taken in. But in the end he chose not to hibernate but used it for naps between snacks and spent the occasional day there during the winter. It must have been a nice winter retreat, but he obviously had another nest elsewhere. But that nest, next Spring, I could have lifted out of the box and it wouldn’t have fallen apart.
But apparently they do sometimes build more than one nest and they are also known to sometimes move nests during hibernation, so it’s not a bad idea to have a spare box or two. And still leave nesting material available throughout the winter.
