Kaytee Aspen Bedding Issues

Hey Gang...Just thought I would post a note to everyone. I recently purchased a bag of Kaytee Aspen Bedding (the big bag). I have been using this bedding for years with my snakes (usually very clean, low dust, high quality and for my area the best value) without issue.

I purchased my latest bag from Petsmart a couple of days ago and opened it for the first time today. I was immediately met with a very strong chemical smell. At first I thought it was just an odd smell (like from the bag or something) but after changing 2 tubs the smell was just too strong and overpowering to be coming from anywhere other then the bedding and to be anything but some sort of chemical (I can't identify the chemical).

I stopped at this point and contacted Kaytee (waiting for a response). I will post an update once I hear back.

Has anyone had a similar issue with Kaytee or Aspen in general?

Hmm, I have been noticing that the Aspen has a strange odor to it lately. But, since I move mine from the bags to bins (with ventilation), it airs out and the smell lessens, as does the slight moisture present when the bag is opened.

I would really like to hear what Kaytee says about this, though. Keep on them.

We had gotten a bag from either petsmart or petco and it smelled weird. I took it back and got a refund.
To me it smelled like cedar, I could be wrong, but didnt like it.
I now go to our local TSC(tractor supply company)we get a big bag and its from Premier Pet brand name. Big bag for under $10.
I get my mice wood pellet bedding there and now that I looked around..I get my dog food from there too.
So it is real nice to go to one store and get most of the supplies I need.
Snakes, mice and dogs supplies and they are cheaper than the pet stores too.

So being cheaper in price, all in one store, I save on gas too.
It is a win-win thing for me.
Jan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tigger2curly

We had gotten a bag from either petsmart or petco and it smelled weird. I took it back and got a refund.
To me it smelled like cedar, I could be wrong, but didnt like it.
I now go to our local TSC(tractor supply company)we get a big bag and its from Premier Pet brand name. Big bag for under $10.
I get my mice wood pellet bedding there and now that I looked around..I get my dog food from there too.
So it is real nice to go to one store and get most of the supplies I need.
Snakes, mice and dogs supplies and they are cheaper than the pet stores too.

So being cheaper in price, all in one store, I save on gas too.
It is a win-win thing for me.
Jan

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I buy my rat pellets and feed at TSC too.

Unfortunately, my TSC doesn't carry Aspen. What they do carry is a mix of woods (...and when I asked pine and cedar were a major part)

i'm sure TSC will order aspen for you.

also TSC are kent food dealers,kent makes a 19% and 23% protein rodent food (lab blocks) at a reasonable price.they may tell you it's not available because it's not on there order sheet,it's a special order item.

i stopped using kaytee aspen because of the strong odor,a woodsy smell not a chemical smell.have fun !

No fair... that TSC place isn't in Colorado. Anything here that's comparable?

there are four kent feed dealers in the denver area.check them out at kentfeeds.com

Cool, I shall do that. Thanks!

Does anybody know the name of the Kent Foods rodent chow. I called my local dealer, and they do not know it, and I have a call in to Evergreen Feeds to see if they can give it to me. I mostly want to find out the price, and availability in my area, to try and find an alternative to Harlan (since they want to make it hard to deal with them lately).

Thanks in Advance,

kent feeds is not very aggresive in there marketing of rodent food,it's not even mentioned on there web site-go figure? if you call the corprate office they are very helpful with info and finding local dealers.

there's no name for there rodent food,the bag has pictures of pigs on it with a tag that says 19% rodent or 23% rodent.dealers have to call there distributors to "special" order it as it is not on there order forms.once you get it the first time then it becomes rountine for dealers.have fun !

Tim,
What are you paying per bag? I have our local dealer checking on it for me. You are correct in that I could not find it on any website, and Evergreen is not answering the phone right now either. We'll see what the local guys come up with..

Thanks for the help.

I JUST switched over to the kaytee brand this weekend. I found it really odd how it smelled since I've been using the TSC this whole time now. So it aint just me?

Dang it... Thanks for the heads up Sean.

tim...i haven't bought any since last year because the nearest TSC is about 60 miles away,at that time it was $10 per 50 lb. bag.

TSC just built a store in my town and it will be open june 18th.

i just ordered some mazuri 6f5m30 from the local feed store-$23 per 50 lb. bag-come on june 18th.

i don't know who evergreen is? is that the parent co. of kent?

Evergreen is the parent company of Kent. If you go to Kent's website and click on links, it will give you a link to Evergreen's website. I am still waiting on the call from Our local distributor. Thanks for the help.

p.s. Have you noticed any difference in health or production with the Kent as opposed to the Mazuri?

i used kent for almost a year with no noticeable difference in health or litter size compared to mazuri.the only differance is there's a little bit more dust in the kent.

i met a rodent breeder at a show and he told me he's been using kent for years and really likes it.i'll soon be switching back when the TSC opens here.

my herp buddy in WI. recently payed $11.25 per 50lb. bag of kent at a local feed store.he called kent's corporate office about the dust and they told him they would check into it and also gave him 350 lbs. for free.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I JUST switched over to the kaytee brand this weekend. I found it really odd how it smelled since I've been using the TSC this whole time now. So it aint just me?

Dang it... Thanks for the heads up Sean.

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I had the bag in my trunk as I was taking it back and the smell seeped into my car and my toddler got sick from it. The store manager who did the refund on the bag had a stock boy run it to the back as the chemical smell was so strong.

BTW...I still haven't heard back from Kaytee yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by muddoc

Tim,
What are you paying per bag? I have our local dealer checking on it for me. You are correct in that I could not find it on any website, and Evergreen is not answering the phone right now either. We'll see what the local guys come up with..

Thanks for the help.

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I think this constitutes a royal :hijackd:!!!

Just razzing you Tim :D

Hmm, I have a nice new bag of this bedding up in the Python room right now, unopened, I wonder if I am going to have the same problem. Hope not, I have liked this beeding so far. :rolleyes:

Oh, up until recently the bedding was great. It's only because of this strange smell (which, BTW, dissipates to near invisibility if you store it out of the plastic) that it's questionable now.

I find that if you get it out of that bag ASAP the smell drastically reduces, indicating that it might be something in the plastic and not the shavings. Hopefully Kaytee will give an answer. Keep bugging them!

I know everyone likes tsc but local feed stores are much better, if you have them, you can get everything you need or if not ordered, and you might get it cheaper.jmo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

I think this constitutes a royal :hijackd:!!!

Just razzing you Tim :D

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Right before I got to this thread, I was thinking that I needed to apologize for the thread jacking. And then I read this and spit coffee all over my desk. My apologies Brother. Maybe a Mod can split this post, and put the rodent chow portion in the appropriate place, as it is good information, and will make getting rodent food easier for me, and also way cheaper.

Sorry Again,

Have any of you heard back about this aspen issue? I've had 2 litters in a row, put on that bedding, and both of them were destroyed by the mothers.

I don't know if it is just a severe coincidence, or if there's something else bothering them, or if it's actually the bedding.

I'm torn up about this. I JUST switched them over to it, and now this happens. My BEST breeder destroyed her litter. :(