Bedding type?

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Unfortunately the rabbit I'm going to get has to live outside. He/she will be litter trained. Is straw a warm and comfortable bedding option? Would aspen be better? They are both about the same cost at a local TSC. Thanks in advance!
 
If the rabbit will have to live outside, then I strongly suggest you get a pair of rabbits. Best option is to get a pair that is already fixed and already bonded.

A single rabbit outdoors isn't a good idea. Consider that even if you sat outside with the rabbit for four hours every day (highly unlikely -- who has that kind of time), that would still leave bunny with 20 hours of loneliness every day.

Getting 2 babies is not a good idea. Babies always seem to get along but that can all change with the onset of hormones. They may start fighting. Fights can be not only vicious, but even deadly. If they started to fight, then you'd have to separate them (two hutches), then get them fixed (could run hundreds of dollars), then give them time to heal (up to 8 weeks), then try to re-introduce them and hope they decide to bond (no guarantees). If they decide to not bond, then you're stuck housing them separately which defeats the purpose of having two to begin with. o_O

I don't have experience with housing rabbits outdoors, so I can't help with the bedding.

To find a pair that is already fixed and bonded, check some of the rescue sites below:
https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/maple-shade/for-bunny-sake-rabbit-rescue-nj375/

https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/cream-ridge/kind-heart-rescue-nj86/

https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id[0]=NJ480&sort[0]=recently_added

https://safehavenrr.org/adopt/

https://www.facebook.com/Willys-Wabbits-553520464726759/
 
Just as a bedding option, straw is better at insulating and keeping the rabbit warm in cold weather.
 
I use straw and put a blanket in with them and you can get a cheap heat lamp (like from Lowe's) and I clamp the heat lamp outside the cage pointed in through the wire so they can't get burned on it or somehow catch the straw on fire by accident or chew on the electric cord.

https://m.lowes.com/pd/Bayco-12-Watt-Incandescent-Portable-Work-Light/3122291

I also put these heated pads under their blankets that are low wattage but they like them. They come with covers over the pads but every one of my buns have destroyed their covers for them and like sitting on the bare pad or on it through the blanket.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NVC7DO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Also beware there is some kind of black coating on the big steel cord part. My buns wanted to chew on the black coating so I ripped off the coating. The steel cord part is super thick and not where the electricity passes. They made it that way in case a dog or anything tried to chew it and it wouldn't get hurt. Just the coating seems like it was a bad idea. Just take it off if you get one.

Also I would suggest making sure you have 3 walls boarded up or insulated good in some way from wind, rain or snow getting into their cages.

I may add pictures of my set up soon to show you what I mean. Hope this helps! :)
 
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Also I just want to note that while straw does help keep them warm, my buns also eat their straw up like a freight train so I have to keep replenishing it all the time lol
 

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