I just opened a brand new bag of pine pellet bedding from Tractor Supply, their store brand. I expected the pleasant mild pine scent I've had with every other brand of pine pellet I've used. But no, it smells bad! It took me a minute to realize why the bad smell was familiar... it reminds me of the rancid smell that nuts and other oily stuff gets when it goes bad.

I've never used the Tractor Supply brand before. Is this typical? My rat colony is in my house, so odor control is important, and adding another bad smell is not desirable!

I also wonder why it smells that way in the first place? Is it even safe to use?

If any one uses the Tractor Supply brand pine pellets, I'd like to hear your experiences.