Natural Manzanita Bird Perches & Pet Enrichment, Handcrafted in Calaveras County
Hi, I’m Matthew Corsaro, the hands behind My Manzanita. I craft natural manzanita perches and enrichment for birds, reptiles, and small animals, right here in the Sierra foothills of Calaveras County, California. Every branch I sell starts as real manzanita growing on private land, then becomes a safe, chemical-free perch or climbing branch your animals can actually live on and chew.
At a Glance – My Manzanita
- Location: Hand-harvested in the Sierra foothills of Calaveras County, California.
- Material: 100% natural California manzanita – no mixed woods, no imports.
- Process: Chemical-free cleaning and prep – scrubbing, boiling/oven-drying, silica-free sandblasting, food-grade coconut oil finish only.
- Focus: Perches and climbing branches for birds and reptiles, plus gnaw-sticks and enrichment for small animals.
- Scale: Small-batch, owner-operated rural business – every piece is selected and checked by the maker.
My Journey with Manzanita
What started as a simple appreciation for hard, beautiful California manzanita turned into a way to build a rural small business and a new chapter in my own recovery journey. I spend my days outdoors in the foothills, selecting dead standing manzanita and brush removed for fire safety, and turning it into useful enrichment instead of waste.
As I experimented with different cuts, cures, and finishes, I saw how much better pets did on real branches instead of smooth dowels and plastic. That’s how My Manzanita was born: a small, owner-operated business focused on natural enrichment that’s actually safe to use every day.
How I Harvest & Prepare Each Piece
I keep the process simple, transparent, and chemical-free so you know exactly what’s going into your cage or enclosure:
- Sustainably sourced on private land in Calaveras County, focusing on already dead standing manzanita or fire-break brush.
- Cut and trimmed by hand, choosing branches with good structure, safe diameters, and interesting character.
- Thoroughly cleaned and sanitized using scrubbing, boiling or oven-drying, and silica-free sandblasting for grip where needed.
- Finished with food-grade coconut oil (when a finish is used) – no pesticides, no sealers, no artificial dyes.
- Checked and handled one at a time, so each perch, climbing branch, or gnaw-stick meets the same standard before it leaves my shop.
The goal is simple: give your animals real wood they can stand on, climb, and chew without worrying about hidden chemicals.
Sustainably Sourced Manzanita from Calaveras County
All of my wood comes from private land in Calaveras County, California, not from clear-cut forests or imported stock. I focus on dead standing manzanita and brush that’s already being removed for fire-breaks and land management, so it becomes useful enrichment instead of waste.
Because I’m harvesting and cutting each branch myself, I can choose pieces that are safe, structurally sound, and well-suited for cages and enclosures. No marketing spin – just real manzanita from the Sierra foothills, handled in small batches by one shop.
Chemical-Free, Pet-Safe Craftsmanship
I keep my process simple and transparent so you know exactly what touches the wood before it reaches your animals:
- No pesticides, sealers, or synthetic finishes.
- Cleaned by hand with scrubbing, boiling or oven-drying, and silica-free sandblasting for grip where needed.
- Finished, when needed, with food-grade coconut oil only – nothing else added.
- Checked one piece at a time for sharp spots, unsafe splits, or hardware issues before shipping.
If you ever have a question about how a piece was prepared, you’re not dealing with a big company – you’re talking directly to the person who cut it.
What Makes Manzanita Different
Manzanita is a dense, long-lasting hardwood with twisted shapes and rich color you don’t get from milled dowels. For birds, reptiles, and small animals, that matters:
- Natural variation in diameter encourages healthier feet and grip compared to perfectly round dowels.
- Hard, durable wood stands up to beaks, claws, teeth, and humidity – ideal for cages, terrariums, and aquascapes.
- The natural bark and grain help create a more interesting, stress-reducing environment that feels closer to the wild.
Rescues & Sanctuaries
If you run a bird rescue, sanctuary, or reptile rehabilitation program, I’d like My Manzanita to be an easy, dependable source for natural perches and branches.
- I can help with bulk orders, size ranges, and recurring shipments.
- We can work together to match species, cage sizes, and budgets.
- I’m happy to donate or discount where possible to support long-term animal care.
Use the Contact page to tell me what you’re working with, and I’ll do my best to match you with the right manzanita for your flock or collection.
Who I Serve
- Pet parents who want natural, chemical-free perches and branches for their birds, reptiles, and small animals.
- Rescues and sanctuaries needing reliable, repeatable supply of natural enrichment for high-needs animals.
- Avian vets, breeders, and exotic pet professionals who recommend non-toxic, natural wood in their care plans.
- Independent pet shops and specialty exotics stores looking for small-batch, story-rich products made in rural Northern California.
My Manzanita Promise
I don’t claim big certifications I don’t have. What I can promise is this: every branch is harvested, cleaned, and prepared by me in Calaveras County using simple, chemical-free methods, and if something shows up that doesn’t look safe or right for your animals, I’ll make it right.
