Introducing the new Trespa show cage

I FIRST came across this product at the aviaries of world-acclaimed breeder Jo Mannes in Germany. Jo’s breeding cages were made of a material I had not seen before, but I quickly saw its advantages for ease of cleaning and strong mechanical strength. Later, I discovered its clinical properties were used extensively in laboratories and other hygienic applications. The product is manufactured at the German company’s factory in Holland.

I also observed a show cage made from the same product by German engineer Siegbert Oestringer, and later many others, including a prototype design for one that slotted together without any screws or fastenings and could be flat-packed for storage. This was at the home of Reinhard Molkentin in South Africa. Reinhard gifted me this prototype cage – an amazing piece of engineering – which I still have.

The show cages became standard issue in Germany and later throughout Europe by the mid- to late 1990s. At that time, the design had a combination lock on the show-cage door.

Recognising the ease of cleaning and the disease-inhibiting qualities of this cage, I quickly acquired my first six