Afraid of their favorite hidy house

[PennyCopper]

My oldest male, Cowboy, has a fear all of a sudden. For 2 years he has used a wicker hidey everyday. He makes a little nest, a curls up. But the past 3 days he is afraid of it. He will not go in there. I just caught him sniffing the entrance then quick retreat. He just won't go in, his favorite place if all? What possibly could have happened? An insect bite maybe? And our other piggie was in that same hidey all day today. So it is definitely a Cowboy issue. Please, I am so curious for your experience and thoughts.

 

[weepweeps]

Was the other piggy in the hide when Cowboy was trying to get in? Maybe he didn’t want to share. Who is the dominant piggy? Maybe there has been a shift in the hierarchy.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

It could either be a fright issue or a dominance problem. Unfortunately, we cannot ask our piggies directly. Have yu checked his body for a potential sting/swelling/area of discomfort?

You could try and see whether a new second wicker house would be a solution?

 

[PennyCopper]

Thank you for the reply. I did check him and nothing visible. He is comfortable in this bungalow now. He seems his sweet, normal self otherwise. Here he is now, lol.

 

[PennyCopper]

Was the other piggy in the hide when Cowboy was trying to get in? Maybe he didn’t want to share. Who is the dominant piggy? Maybe there has been a shift in the hierarchy.

Thank you. Good idea but the original incident I did not witness. As of now, several days later, he will stand around the entrance but not go inside.
He is acting completely normal otherwise.

 

[PennyCopper]

He did it! Cowy slowly and carefully made his way into his hidey again. He head-butted it around a couple times and exited. He is making peace with whatever spooked him.