When considering purchasing Manzanita you must know that it naturally cracks. We have tried many different curing processes and some work on a small diameter branches while larger branches are almost impossible to keep from cracking, this is not a defect. At M.B.P. we deburr all large cracks for your birds safety.
Larger pet birds do tend to enjoy picking at these cracks which helps control beak growth. Due to the nature of Manzanita, being the 8th hardest wood in the world, it is bound to crack. Many people have asked about the durability of the cracked wood where the hanger bolt is located, there is no need to worry because the hanger bolt is also glued in.