I do exactly the same as ADozenGirlz! And usually each chick season I check in the human incontinence section for pads and compare prices to the puppy pads. We don't go through them too fast though because I also lay the paper towel / shavings on the pads and just take out the bedding, leaving the pads to re-use too. And I make chick condos out of boxes too!
We get some great 3' x 3' x3' boxes at work. I raise up the flaps and tape them so they stay up so that the birds can't fly out as they grow with the same little doors to hop through to the next one I add as they grow and need more room. I try to keep my birds in the house until about 6 weeks, depending on weather. By thin I'm usually disgusted with all the dust in my office and try to move them outside with a light.
