Any front door, back, side, top, or bottom can be made out of thermofused laminate, aluminum laminate panel, acrylic, glass, or stainless steel wire, and perforated aluminum. The standard Hybrid cage materials for your cage will vary, depending on what setup you choose (see center insert for standard configurations). These panels are all interchangeable and can be switched or replaced at any time without having to purchase a new cage. Below is an overview of all the materials our cages can be made with.
Anodized Aluminum Frame
The standard for all our cage frames. Made from extruded aluminum that is hardened and anodized black. Aluminum is an excellent material because it is strong and will never rust or corrode. The anodized finish also adds significant durability to the product, making it much more difficult to scratch and very attractive. This material also makes our cages great for outdoor use.
We have a selection of 4 different wood grains and 2 granite colors available. The surface, front, and back of the panels are very hard, durable, washable, and non-porous materials (similar to a kitchen countertop). This makes any outside or inside surface of the cage resistant to harboring bacteria, odor, waste, and is very easy to clean. Many modular furniture pieces you find in a catalog or department store are made with a much weaker vinyl surface that has a similar look but can tend to peel. The material we use is much more durable.
It is recommended to seal the edges of any laminate panel with silicone frame sealant. This can also be purchased at any hardwood store. This will prevent the edges of the panel from swelling due to moisture. It is very easy to seal the edges of the panels with our cages because the aluminum completely surrounds the edges of the panels creating a good spot out of sight to apply a bead of silicone. If you’re uncomfortable with sealing the edges in extreme moisture situations, we recommend getting a moisture-proof panel substitution, which you’ll find in the following sections.
Below is the selection of panel colors available. Black granite is the standard, but you may substitute any color at no additional charge. Also, you can have a custom background laminated to your back panel for a personalized look.
Aluminum completely surrounds edges with plenty of room for sealant inside the frame if desired to prevent warping or swelling with extreme moisture.
Cambridge Cherry
English Oak
Golden Oak
Prestige Maple
Black Granite
Natural Granite
Any panel of your enclosure can have aluminum laminate panels substituted for your standard panel. The panels have black-coated aluminum on both sides with a PVC or ABS core. Our aluminum laminate panels hold up extremely well in wet conditions, are scratch-resistant, lightweight, and very sturdy (stronger and lighter than our thermofused laminate panels). It is highly recommended to use aluminum laminate whenever your cage is being used for outdoor purposes or other high moisture circumstances. Because the thermofused laminate comes in a variety of colors, is much less expensive (reduces the price of the cage), and is ideal for most circumstances, we make laminate our standard and offer the aluminum laminate panel as an upgrade at an additional charge. These panels are available in black only, see center insert for substitution pricing.
- Any panel of our cages either comes standard with or has the option of clear acrylic as a material.
- One of the hardest forms of clear plastic available, hard to scratch or gouge.
- Excellent UV properties – very clear and will not yellow except in the most extreme circumstances (takes about 10 years of direct sunlight to start to yellow).
- 5 times stronger than glass and is extremely hard to break with side impact. In tests, a 14” x 20” tightly clamped piece of the same thickness we use can withstand a 45mph fastball without breaking (our cages can withstand a great deal more because the panels are larger and the edges are not tightly clamped).
- We don’t drill any holes in the panels for fastening. Rather, all panels slide snugly into grooves in the framework of the enclosures. Drilled holes leave vulnerable spots for cracking and breaking. With our design, it is nearly impossible for very large birds, reptiles, or small animals to break out.
- We prefer acrylic because it weighs much less and is 5 times stronger and safer, but glass can be used in place of any panel in most circumstances. However, we do not supply the glass because of the risk of damage in transit. Instead, we will subtract the price of the standard panel from the cost of your cage and you will have to get glass panels cut locally.
- We will give you the dimensions to have your glass panels cut when you order so you have them done by the time you get your cage. Local glass dealers can usually have custom pieces cut within 1-2 days, however, we strongly recommend talking with one of our sales associates before choosing a glass option.
- Crimp-locked stainless steel wire. Stronger than carbon or standard steel, rust-proof, no toxic coatings.
- Any panel of our cages either comes standard with or has the option of stainless steel wire as a material.
- We are extremely confident that a macaw or other strong bird is NOT going to be able to chew through it. Most cages have welds that create a soft point at the joint of the steel. We commonly have bird owners call us to buy a cage because their bird broke the welds in their current cage. This can’t happen with our cages. Also, most cages with a welded construction use a secondary coat to hide the welds because the welding process leaves burn marks.
- The standard opening size for an H3 cage is 1” x 1”. This is the most common size required for birds, reptiles, and small animals. For an H2 cage, the standard opening side is 3/4” x 3/4”. We also have 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”, 1/2” x 1/2”, and heavy duty 1” x 1” openings. The wider the opening, the heavier the gauge wire. The smaller openings can be used for applications where you do not want crickets, smaller birds, or reptiles to escape.
1.5 x 1.5 x 0.162″
1 x 1 x 0.162″
1 x 1 x 0.120″
0.75 x 0.75 x 0.092″
0.5 x 0.5 x 0.092″
Stainless Steel Wire Mesh is available in the following sizes:
- ½” x ½” x .092” Stainless Steel Wire
- ¾” x ¾” x .092” Stainless Steel Wire
- 1” x 1” x .120” Stainless Steel Wire
- 1” x 1” x .162” Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Wire (Cockatoo, Greenwing, Hyacinth, etc…)
- 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” x .162” Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Wire (Cockatoo, Greenwing, Hyacinth, etc…)
- Perfect when you want lighting and heating elements to sit on top of the cage and not have access for the animals to get to them.
- Allows for ample ventilation where airflow is desired. Round staggered holes also help diffuse the light so you are not looking directly at the bright lighting fixtures from outside the cage.
- Aluminum material will not rust and will last very long in virtually any environment.
- Openings are 3/16″ in diameter and spaced 1/4″ apart, with approximately 51% open space; small enough for crickets to not get through but large enough to allow sufficient light, heat, and airflow to enter the cage.
Perforated Aluminum