Hi Justin
He might be thinking about hibernating in there. I have, a few times, had hogs who have seemed to be thinking about using feed boxes for hibernation.
One time some nesting materials were taken in and two large (male) hogs came and went each night but also spent the day in there. I wasn’t sure whether one of them did actually start hibernating in there in the end. They didn’t poo in there – but once I saw them using it to sleep in I only put the food and water in another place. In my experience hogs are more likely to poo where there is food around and more than one hog visiting.
Another time a male hoglet spent a few nights (or early mornings) building a substantial hibernation nest completely fillling a feed box, but in the end he only used it for naps between snacks (the food was by then elsewhere) and he continued to visit for food and water all winter. Sometimes he spent the day in there, but not always, so I imagine he had another nest somewhere else.
In the Summer, I have quite often had hogs spending the day in feed boxes for a day or few. They have been males as well!
My feed boxes are wooden, but I imagine to a hog a box is a box and if it keeps the cold out a bit, maybe quite welcome for a winter nap.
It would be interesting to know if he continues napping in there.
