Since I live on the other side of the planet compared to most of y'all, product availability is different here vs. there.

All the aspen etc. are shipped from over seas and quite expensive. I recently found out that birch shavings manufactured here is more easily available. I never showed interest in small bag rabbit products, but I did some math and perhaps buying birch in small pet store packages might be slightly cheaper than big bales of aspen I order. The price difference is insignificant, but yhe main thing with aspen is that I have to order it and they say they'll deliver at 3pm but then come 5 I'm still waiting.

The thing is, I've never used "flakes". Do they "pack down" well like thr fine aspen shreds do?

Also, the aspen is listed in cu ft. The birch is listed in KG by weight. The person at the store says that 5 cu ft. volume would last as long as 20kg. If I were to believe this, THEN the birch is cheaper. What fo you all think?