litter box vs. no litter box for an outdoor rabbit?

[EmilyClick28]

I keep all my rabbits in outdoor hutches with wire flooring on the cages.... so naturally I didn't start with litter boxes. but one of my rabbit was litter trained for a while, and i loved being able to bring her inside. But it was quite a hassle to change the box out every day, when i could just let her poop on the wire. now i could probably train my 2 new mini lop does to use a litter box... but im wondering if it would be worth it? does anyone on here use litter boxes for their rabbit herds? cause i think litter boxes are mostly for indoor rabbits.... but i sure would like to be able to bring my buns inside! ive tried newspaper on the floor but they just dig through it.... and also, what would be the best reccommended bedding to use in a litter box? pretty much all i have is hay... would it be a good idea to put some newspaper in the bottom to soak up pee? or is just plain hay okay?

 

[animalmom]

I can't say much about litter box training your outside rabbits as I don't do that. Nest box material I can comment on. I use wire nest boxes and in the cold part of the winter I line the sides and bottom of the boxes with cardboard and then fill with hay. The doe supplies the nice warm fur lining for the kits. When the weather is warmer I only put cardboard at the bottom of the nest box. I do collect fur during the year when I brush the rabbits. I put the fur from the brush in a zip plastic bag and use some if the doe hasn't pulled enough fur. Other folks I've read collect their grass clippings, dry them and store them in a big paper bag (like the bags the 50 lb. feed come in). This is good as long as you don't put anything on your lawn like herbicides, insecticides or fertilizers.

When you remove the nest box from the cage you can compost the used hay. It is easy to pull out with the cardboard bottom.

 

[Coolup Rabbitry]

My rabbits are outdoors & I do use litter trays in their hutches. I find it is a lot easier this way to keep their hutches clean.
I use a small tray & I use pine bark shavings. I don't change it daily, as there is no need. I only change it when it starts to get too full, probably 1-2 times a week for 1 rabbit & 2-3 times a week for 2 rabbits sharing a hutch.
I never use hay for bedding or litter trays as it doesn't soak up the urine, it just gets wet & soggy & requires regular cleaning & is not good for the rabbits health. I put saw dust or pine bark shavings for bedding. Hay is for food only & if you require something to keep it off the floor, try using a wire basket. You put it on its side & you cut a hole in the top using wire cutters (This is so you can fill it with hay) You then attach the basket to the side of the cage using wire or cable ties & then stuff it full of hay. It helps to keep it off the floor & from being trampled, pooped & pee'd on.