What is the average price of a Greater Sulfur Cockatoo?

Question

I am considering buying one for my wife, there is one I have been watching, she is 4 years old, but I do not want to pay too much, I live in Florida.
Thanks.

Answer 1

For a for year old...i would pay no more than 4-600. Depending if she's tame, healthy, and has not had any other owners. As babies they go anywhere from 1700+

EDIT: COCKATOOS MAKE GREAT PETS!!!!!

Answer 2

I would estimate for anywhere from $1200+ from a breeder hand reared. For a 4 year old $700-800 maybe.

I also live in Florida (Jacksonville area) and can recommend a bird breeder to you if you live in that area that specializes in Australian parrots who can give you some pricing if you are interested in babies.

Edit: I couldn't agree more with the below posters concerns about buying a cockatoo if you haven't had previous bird experience. But I am assuming since you have been watching the 4 year old that you mention you are minding it for a friend and have had previous parrot experience? Please do all the research you can about these guys as they are definately a handful, even for the most seasoned bird lover. They need ALOT of out of cage time per day. There will be bites, screams and expensive avian vet bills, every day food (fresh fruit/veg/pellet combo), toys and the cage aren't the cheapest so think long and hard! :-)

In my opinion if you visit this website : http://www.mytoos.com/nuts.shtml and still aren't phased by the horror stories and then go and spend a day or two with a cockatoo owner and the bird you should get an idea of what you are up for. They are a bit like kids who don't grow up and you will be living with them for the rest of your life, no doubt about it some live until 110+, write them into your will. In saying all that, they are magnificent animals and do have their good qualities! You can also visit www.pionusparrot.com and ask some of the forum members who own cockatoos for some stories and helpful hints about them.

I know it sounds like "cockatoos are for the elite and experienced" but that is not it. It requires a person that is fully committed, understanding of their needs and will be with them for the long haul. Cockatoos I'd say are the number one bird that end up in shelters after they mature. If you understand all this then that is great! Granted, you didn't ask for any of this advice but they are not normal birds.

Answer 3

I know this really doesn't answer your question about the price, but my recommendation would be: Don't buy a cockatoo. Large parrots don't make good pets, period. It is very difficult to give a large parrot the attention that it needs. They are highly intelligent and require a lot of quality time from you in order to be happy. They can be very destructive, and noisy as the other person said. If you plan to have children in the future, definitely scratch your plans for a large parrot, as you will not have the time to spend with the bird. Also, cockatoos create a huge amount of dust on their feathers that will coat everything in your house with a blanket of white. This dust is highly allergenic to some people, and you may find you have allergies you didn't know you had. Years ago, I read many books on large parrots and subscribed to Bird Talk magazine for years. The books and the articles all said the same thing: large parrots don't make good pets. I didn't believe them. I thought "they don't know me, how can they say that I won't be a good parrot owner, and make the bird happy". You know what? They were right. I had to let both my African Grey and my Blue and Gold Macaw go to other homes because I couldn't give them the attention that they needed to be happy. Are they better off? I'll never know. No one should consider owning a large parrot unless they are totally committed "bird people", and have previous experience with smaller species. If you've already accomplished everything you want to do in your life, and your kids have grown and left home, and you have previous bird experience, then maybe consider a large parrot. Still I would not recommend it. Not trying to preach here, just don't want you to make the same mistake that so many people make, including myself.

Budgies and cockatiels make great bird pets and are tons of fun, don't underestimate them.

Answer 4

If you have not had birds before, don't get a cockatoo. They are great birds but demand a LOT of attention. They are also very loud birds that love to screech both in the early morning and in the evening. If decibel levels are an issue, maybe birds just aren't for you at all, but especially not cockatoos or macaws. A lot of people will buy a cockatoo or macaw because they think they will look great in their home. This is the WORST reason to buy a bird and these birds usually wind up getting closed up away from people, given away or in some cases even die of neglect.

If you haven't had birds before, think about getting a budgie or cockatiel instead. Cockatiels are the smallest cockatoos and handfed ones are beautiful affectionate little birds who can learn to whistle tunes. Budgies are the best talkers of all birds as far as vocabulary goes. They can learn a LOT!

But before you get any bird, do your research. Learn about the various types of birds, their diet, their habits, their housing needs and health requirements. Talk to people who have birds and try to line up some "mentors" who can help you along the way, even for a budgie or cockatiel. Both you and your wife and also the bird you finally choose will be happier in the long run.

Answer 5

Well i think you need to research a whole bunch on cockatoos. They are very "needie" babies. Then find out if the bird was hand raised. Find out if it has been vet checked. I have an umbrella that i hand raised myself. I paid 1200 for her. But only because i worked for the lady who sold them. Normally she would have been 1700. This is a forever companion. They will out live you. Plus cockatoos are amoung the loudest, and most destructive if not givin the constant attention they need.