If you are planning to buy a baby cockatoo, you might want to know how much they cost. There is no simple answer to this question, as the cost of each baby is different, and it depends on certain factors.
Most baby cockatoos sell for $500-1000. But since there are several kinds of cockatoos, the cost varies from type to type. The most expensive babies cost upto $4000, and the least expensive ones cost $40.
The age and gender of a baby also impact the cost. During the first few weeks, baby cockatoos cannot eat on their own. They need to be hand-fed and require much care. As they grow, they start self-feeding and no longer require much care. This is why hand-feeding-aged baby cockatoos cost less than self-feeding-aged babies.
| Cockatoo Species | Baby (Hand-feeding-aged) | Baby (Self-feeding-aged) |
| Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | $2000 | $2500 |
| Moluccan Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Red-tailed Black Cockatoo | $500 | $1000 |
| Galah Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Black Palm Cockatoo | $1500 | $2500 |
| Umbrella Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Blue-eyed Cockatoo | $1200 | $2400 |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | $500 | $1000 |
| Citron-crested Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Goffin’s Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Cockatiel (Cockatoo) | $40 | $100 |
| Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo | $500 | $1000 |
| Gang-Gang Cockatoo | $600 | $900 |
| Bare-eyed Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Long-billed Corella Cockatoo | $400 | $800 |
| Ducorps Corella | $400 | $800 |
| Glossy Black Cockatoos | $2500 | $4000 |
Generally, a baby cockatoo sells at half to the one-third the cost of an adult cockatoo of the same species. But since some species are rare, their babies sell at a higher cost. Now let’s discuss the cost of baby cockatoo of each species in detail.
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
The cost of a hand-feeding-aged baby Yellow-tailed Black cockatoo is $2000, and the cost of a self-feeding-aged Yellow-tailed Black cockatoo is about $2500. But given their rarity, breeders sell their babies for over 500% of their actual cost in some regions.
Moluccan Cockatoo
Moluccan cockatoos are one of the least expensive and most beautiful cockatoo species. A hand-feeding-aged baby Moluccan cockatoo costs $400 and a self-feeding-age baby costs $800.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is one of the six species of Black cockatoos, and they are very expensive cockatoos due to their rarity and unique characteristics. Generally, their hand-feeding-aged babies sell for $500, and self-feeding-aged babies sell for $1000. But due to their rarity, some breeders sell their babies for as high as $12000. In some regions, Red-tailed Black cockatoo babies are hard to find.
Galah Cockatoo
Galah cockatoo babies are also one of the least expensive among all species. Their hand-feeding-aged babies sell for $400 and self-feeding-aged babies sell for $800.
Cost of Black Baby Palm Cockatoos:
Black Palm cockatoos are the largest cockatoo species. The proper cost of their hand-feeding-aged baby is $1500, and that of their self-feeding-aged babies is $2500. But since they are also rare and they do not breed well in captivity, they are often sold at higher prices. Some buyers on the internet claim that the local breeders in the USA demand prices as high as $12000.
Umbrella Cockatoo
Umbrella cockatoo babies are probably the most demanded cockatoo babies in the world. They are easy to source, and they are also inexpensive. You can get a hand-feeding-aged baby for $400 and a self-feeding-aged baby for $800.
Blue-eyed Cockatoo
Blue-eyed cockatoos are very rare, so their babies are not easy to source. Very few breeders in the USA own this species and sell their babies. Generally, the cost varies from breeder to breeder but an average cost of a hand-feeding-aged baby is $1200, and the cost of a self-feeding-aged baby is $2400.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Sulphur-crested cockatoos are also one of the most common cockatoo species in the world. Their gorgeous plumage and friendly nature attract everybody. Their hand-feeding-aged baby costs $500, and their self-feeding-aged baby costs $1000.
Citron-crested Cockatoo
Citron-crested cockatoos are similar to Sulphur-crested cockatoos. The only visual difference is the color of their crest. Citron-crested cockatoo’s self-feeding-aged babies sell for $400 and their self-feeding-aged babies sell for $800.
Goffins Cockatoo
The hand-feeding-aged babies of Goffin cockatoos sell for almost $400, and their self-feeding-aged babies sell for $800.
Cockatiel (Cockatoo)
If you are on a budget or you have limited space, cockatiels are the most-suited cockatoo species for you. They are small, but their nature is no different from other types of cockatoos. Their hand-feeding-aged babies sell for $40, and their self-feeding-aged babies sell for $100.
Since they are commonly available all over the world, you might be able to get a baby for an even lower cost. Unlike most cockatoos, cockatiels have a variety of colors, and hence the cost of cockatiels also varies according to color.
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo
The hand-feeding-aged babies of Major Mitchell’s cockatoos sell for $500, and their self-feeding-aged babies sell for $1000. They are not exactly common, but they are available in the USA.
Gang-gang Cockatoo
This species is not very common as pets, but they also become good pets. A hand-feeding-aged Gang-gang cockatoo sells for $600, and a self-feeding-aged baby sells for $900.
Bare-eyed Cockatoo
The hand-feeding aged Bare-eyed cockatoo babies sell for $400, and their self-feeding-aged babies sell for $800. They are also commonly available in the US.
Long-billed Corella Cockatoo
Long-billed Corella cockatoos look similar to Bare-eyed cockatoos, except they have a red patch on their neck. The self-feeding-aged babies of Long-billed Corella cockatoos cost $400, and their hand-feeding-aged babies cost $800.
Ducorps Corella
Durcorps Collea cockatoos are similar to other types of Corella cockatoos, especially Goffin’s cockatoos. Their hand-feeding-aged babies cost $400, and their self-feeding-aged babies cost $800.
Glossy Black Cockatoos
Generally, Glossy Black cockatoos’ hand-feeding-aged babies sell for $2500, and self-feeding-aged babies sell for $4000. But since this breed is rare in captivity, many US-based cockatoo breeders sell it for $12000 or even higher.
If you can’t find a Glossy Black Cockatoo baby, you can buy a Red-tailed Black cockatoo baby; they look similar.
Final Thoughts
If this is your first time buying and keeping a baby cockatoo, I recommend buying a self-feeding-aged baby. Such babies are easy to raise and do not need much bird-keeping experience.
Besides buying a self-feeding-aged baby, I also recommend buying a cockatiel baby rather than any other cockatoo species. Cockatiel babies are one of the easiest babies to raise and are a good match for fresh hobbyists.
