angelica.madalena
New member
- Jan 17, 2025
- 1
- 0
- Parrots
- Two green cheek conures
Hello Everyone! Over the summer I was looking for a spacious home to house my small flock of budgies. I saw some folks on Parrot Forum give positive reviews of the Natural Inspirations double/divided cages(Cage Model 5024), so I ordered one, and was super excited. I ordered it in June and finally received it in September.
Unfortunately, it did not come with instructions, but I did manage to get some videos/info from the company about how to start setting it up. They were not comprehensive, but through trial and error over the course of a few days it gave me enough to get the main frame of the cage together. I eventually received the written instructions via email last week, but they were less helpful.
Now, a few weeks and some missing parts later(I eventually received the missing screws in the mail), I have it most of the way done- but the finishing touches to make it livable for the birds are just not working out. (I am not a builder, but even with the help of some fairly handy friends, some things just aren't working.) The screw holes are not lining up well at many points in the cage, and some of the screws seem too small to catch in the places they are allegedly supposed to be. After weeks of it sitting half-done I have improvised with some different screws to get it mostly together.
One main problem I am still having is with the floor grates- with all the cage screws loosened I can move them in and out of the cage, but once I screw in the partition bars (I need the bars since I am using it as one large cage, not a divided cage) It tightens the cage to the point where I can no longer pull the grates out, which would make cleaning impossible. Has anyone come across this issue, or have suggestions on what to do ? If I don't install the partition bars, the grates will slide, but I fear without them the budgies could get out through the large gap, or get stuck in it.
I noticed as well that the grooved pathway in the center of the cage ceiling (where the divider wall would go, if it were being used) is very sharp and has pointy edges that seem unsafe to have exposed inside the cage. I cut my finger on it just while trying to build the cage. It seems unlikely that it is meant to be like that, but I don't see any pieces that would cover it to make it safer.
I do have a lot of remaining hardware pieces that I am unsure how to use- as they weren't mentioned in the videos or the instructions. These include:
a third partition bar, 5 "safety catches", 2 wing nut looking screws, and many regular screws of all sizes.
I also could not attach the swivel feeder doors latch with the short screw I was told to use, and currently have them attached with longer screws, and held closed with clips I found around the house.
Another oddity I noticed is that once having installed the door locks, one door locks by moving the lever upwards, while the other door locks by moving the lever downward. Not sure why this inconsistency is occurring?
I am looking for any help I can get on this project, as I have been hoping to get my birds into a new home for 5 months now. The cage is also quite expensive, so I feel like it's not normal to have to be rigging it to make it work.
I am truly at a loss as to how to proceed here, and if anyone has had an experience with this cage please let me know! Photos of your Natural Inspirations cage 5024 are welcome.
Thank you all and I wish you and your feather friends a good day
Unfortunately, it did not come with instructions, but I did manage to get some videos/info from the company about how to start setting it up. They were not comprehensive, but through trial and error over the course of a few days it gave me enough to get the main frame of the cage together. I eventually received the written instructions via email last week, but they were less helpful.
Now, a few weeks and some missing parts later(I eventually received the missing screws in the mail), I have it most of the way done- but the finishing touches to make it livable for the birds are just not working out. (I am not a builder, but even with the help of some fairly handy friends, some things just aren't working.) The screw holes are not lining up well at many points in the cage, and some of the screws seem too small to catch in the places they are allegedly supposed to be. After weeks of it sitting half-done I have improvised with some different screws to get it mostly together.
One main problem I am still having is with the floor grates- with all the cage screws loosened I can move them in and out of the cage, but once I screw in the partition bars (I need the bars since I am using it as one large cage, not a divided cage) It tightens the cage to the point where I can no longer pull the grates out, which would make cleaning impossible. Has anyone come across this issue, or have suggestions on what to do ? If I don't install the partition bars, the grates will slide, but I fear without them the budgies could get out through the large gap, or get stuck in it.
I noticed as well that the grooved pathway in the center of the cage ceiling (where the divider wall would go, if it were being used) is very sharp and has pointy edges that seem unsafe to have exposed inside the cage. I cut my finger on it just while trying to build the cage. It seems unlikely that it is meant to be like that, but I don't see any pieces that would cover it to make it safer.
I do have a lot of remaining hardware pieces that I am unsure how to use- as they weren't mentioned in the videos or the instructions. These include:
a third partition bar, 5 "safety catches", 2 wing nut looking screws, and many regular screws of all sizes.
I also could not attach the swivel feeder doors latch with the short screw I was told to use, and currently have them attached with longer screws, and held closed with clips I found around the house.
Another oddity I noticed is that once having installed the door locks, one door locks by moving the lever upwards, while the other door locks by moving the lever downward. Not sure why this inconsistency is occurring?
I am looking for any help I can get on this project, as I have been hoping to get my birds into a new home for 5 months now. The cage is also quite expensive, so I feel like it's not normal to have to be rigging it to make it work.
I am truly at a loss as to how to proceed here, and if anyone has had an experience with this cage please let me know! Photos of your Natural Inspirations cage 5024 are welcome.
Thank you all and I wish you and your feather friends a good day
