Hi Kb70
Are you saying that the hog is only taking naps in between snacking and not during the day? And are you feeding in the hog house the hog is sleeping in?
You really need to decide whether you want to use the hog box for feeding or for sleeping. If for feeding then don’t put any bedding in and definitely clean out regularly, otherwise hogs could be picking up parasites from visiting the box.
Hogs will sometimes spend the day in a box designated for feeding, but until it gets near hibernation time that might be only for the occasional day here or there. But if there is already any bedding in a box it might give the hogs ideas (as well as providing a good habitat for parasites if there are multiple hogs coming and going to feed). Having said that, occasionally a hog will decide to turn a feed box into a sleeping box (and take bedding in, itself) in which I case I wouldn’t clean it out and give up trying to feed in it.
If you have put the bedding in yourself, it’s being used for food as well, and the hog is not using it during the day, I would probably clean it out. Don’t use chemicals to clean it. Boiling water should get rid of any parasite eggs.
But if it is occupied a hog should not be evicted (even temporarily) to clean out a box.
Sorry. Hard to be concise when trying to cover various eventualities. Hope one of them is relevant.
