Why do pigs chew wood?

[Eviolus-]

So my pigs aren't chewers, they'll munch on a good bit of cardboard but that's about it.

But despite this, they are determined to consume their wooden hides! While they're sitting in there they'll just randomly nibble on the door frame or window.

I was wondering why they do this when there are far more appetizing things to chew elsewhere? Or is it just one if those things they just do without reason? Sorry for the random question, it's just been on my mind for a while now

 

[Piggylove82]

My 4 year old Molly decided she had to reshape the window in her log cabin. She would even leave a dish of fresh grass to do it!


It's the only thing she chews. She never chewed the hutch or cardboard

 

[Sophie B]

My boys prefer things like cardboard and toys made of straw or hay

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

My 4 year old Molly decided she had to reshape the window in her log cabin. She would even leave a dish of fresh grass to do it!
View attachment 136919

It's the only thing she chews. She never chewed the hutch or cardboard

I had a wooden cabin like that for my outdoor run. My chunky boar Badger nibbled around the window so it was big enough for him to climb through Useful when his cage mate was already in the cabin and blocking the doorway!
I wonder if they do it for the same reason that teething babies chew on things?

 

[Piggylove82]

I had a wooden cabin like that for my outdoor run. My chunky boar Badger nibbled around the window so it was big enough for him to climb through Useful when his cage mate was already in the cabin and blocking the doorway!
I wonder if they do it for the same reason that teething babies chew on things?

Maybe they do. But Molly was definitely NOT a baby when this pic was taken

 

[piggles 7000]

One of my piggies does this! She loves a good chew on her hay rack and water bottle holder. I hear her a night-shes in the next room. Grr!

 

[Sweet Potato]

one of our boys goes straight for the skirting boards when we get him out we gotta be careful because we rent our house he also nibbled a photo frame once that was on the wall behind his cage. he doesn't really want to eat his own things though

 

[PigglePuggle]

Lots of reasons why piggies chew things... firstly they are rodents, its what they do best! And its good for the teeth, which grow constantly so need wearing down. And its a way of exploring things, while we'd use our hands, piggies use their mouths. Also in some cases they know chewing something they shouldnt is a sure fire way of making the hooman slaves rush to the fridge... that's the case with Tallulah anyway, usually she's happy to chew cardboard and haycubes like she's supposed to... but if she sees me sat on the sofa near the cage and fancies a snack she looks me right in the eye and takes a deliberate bite out of the plastic correx cage base!

 

[Wiebke]

Piggies like to chew on a lot of things. My wooden huts have all nibble marks on them - at least it beats correx, wallpaper, slippers or anything plasticky that they can lay their gnashers on before I can get there!