Black Palm Cockatoo Price (Plus Amazing Facts About The Black Palm Cockatoo)

Dubbed the king of cockatoos, the black palm cockatoo is one of the most sought-after pets among bird enthusiasts. They are intelligent, social, and inquisitive, making them great pets. While they are not as affectionate as other cockatoos, it still craves regular interaction with their caretaker. 

While black palm cockatoos are uncommon in captivity, many people still want to have them as pets. But what is a black palm cockatoo’s price?

Key Takeaways

In this article, you will learn

• How much is a black palm cockatoo 
• How to take care of a black palm cockatoo
• What you should and should not feed your pet cockatoo
• Common illnesses and treatments for a domesticated black palm cockatoo

A black palm cockatoo costs $15,000 or more. You also need to purchase a large enclosure, adding to the upfront cost. Food, grooming, and healthcare are requirements and additional expenses.

Black palm cockatoos are one of the most beautiful birds, so it is not surprising why many bird enthusiasts want to keep one as a pet. That said, this article will discuss a black palm cockatoo’s price and its care requirements. 

Black Palm Cockatoo Price

Have you ever thought of owning a black cockatoo? These birds make fantastic pets due to their high level of intelligence. On top of that, their brilliant smoky gray to black feathers and bright red patch make black palm cockatoos one of the most gorgeous birds an enthusiast can ever have. 

If you are considering getting a black palm cockatoo as a pet, you might wonder, “what is a black palm cockatoo’s price?”

How Much Is A Black Palm Cockatoo?

The black palm cockatoo is the most expensive cockatoo that someone can ever get. Its price ranges from $15,000 or even more. These birds are rare in the legal pet trade, which makes them highly expensive. 

Apart from the upfront cost, caring for a cockatoo is a consistent expense. The study Survival In The Ark: Life-History Trends In Captive Parrots found that a black palm cockatoo raised in captivity can live for 40 years or more. So, if you will make this bird a pet, expect years of expenses, such as food, grooming, and general care.

Moreover, a black palm cockatoo can grow 20 inches. They are energetic and require a lot of exercises. So, you will also have to provide a large enclosure to give this bird sufficient space to move around. A custom-made aviary for this bird is the best way to ensure it has enough room and can live its best life.

Can Black Palm Cockatoos Talk?

Black palm cockatoos are one of the best-talking cockatoo species. They can imitate words very well and are famous for their human-like voices. If you are looking for a bird who likes talking, a black palm cockatoo is the best choice.

Additionally, these birds are famous for creating drumming noises. Their vocalizations are deafening, so you must prepare your ears if you plan to care for one. 

The calls black palm cockatoos make can reach up to a hundred meters. They are not suitable pets for people who live in apartments and condominiums, as their vocalizations can disturb people. 

You can train a black palm cockatoo to speak different words. But even if you don’t, they will naturally learn simply by listening to their surroundings. 

Taking Care Of A Black Palm Cockatoo

Known for their temperament and playful nature, it is essential to understand how to properly take care of a black palm cockatoo before getting one. This way, you can decide whether you can meet this bird’s demands.

Black Palm Cockatoos Require Constant Attention

Black palm cockatoos quickly get bored, so they need consistent day-to-day activities. While these birds are not as affectionate as other parrots, they are still very social and inquisitive. For this reason, they will require a lot of attention from their caretakers.

It would help if you never left black palm cockatoos alone for more than a day, as boredom can cause them stress. They may even pick their feathers or show occasional aggression when bored. If you have to leave your home regularly, this bird may not be a suitable companion and you should look for a bird best suited for your lifestyle. 

High Maintenance Requirement

As mentioned, the cost of a black palm cockatoo alone is expensive. However, your expenses do not end after paying for this bird. For one, you need to purchase a large enclosure with enough space for the bird to fly and play around. 

According to the book The Cockatoos: A Complete Guide To The 21 Species, the cage of a black palm cockatoo should measure at least 7 meters (23′) long, 4 meters (13′), and 2.5 meters (8′) wide. This way, your feathered companion can adjust to the feeling of confinement, as you can place exercise materials inside the enclosure and still give the bird a lot of room for movement. 

Providing your pet bird with exercise materials will keep them physically healthy. However, keeping it in its enclosure all day is still not ideal for this bird. 

Instead, it would be best if you took your black palm cockatoo out of its cage for 3 to 4 hours on a regular basis. This way, your pet can socialize with you while it stretches its muscles. In its enclosure, the ideal toys for a black palm cockatoo are wood toys, ropes, and chew toys. It is best to have quite a few of these toys. 

Grooming 

Grooming is another requirement for taking care of a black palm cockatoo. In the wild, black palm cockatoos bathe in the rain, similar to other birds. So, it would be best if you bathed your pet from time to time to remove any dust stuck on their feathers. 

Moreover, a black palm cockatoo’s diet involves pandanus nuts. These birds break the shell of the nuts, which prevents their beaks from over-growing. If you cannot get these nuts for your pet cockatoo, you will need to trim its beaks to keep its ideal length. It is best to seek out a professional for this instead of trying it yourself, as you may harm the bird and get injured yourself. 

In addition, your feathered companion’s nails will grow continuously, so you also need to trim them. Again, it is best to seek out a professional for this task. 

What Is A Black Palm Cockatoo’s Diet?

According to the article called Black Palm Cockatoos – The King Of Cockatus, pandanus nuts are the favorite diet of these birds. But apart from these nuts, there are other fruits that black palm cockatoos eat in the wild. Their diet includes:

• nuts
• tree seeds
• Java almond
• palm fruit
• eucalyptus tree bark

This bird has a strong, hard beak, allowing it to break nutshells and tree barks easily. In captivity, you can feed your black palm cockatoo with a mix of fruits, vegetables, and pellets. Keep nuts to a minimum, as these are high in fat and can make your bird gain weight. 

Moreover, black palm cockatoos can gain weight. For this reason, you need to be careful when feeding them. Ensure their pellets are high-quality and contain much of the nutrients they need. 

What You Should Avoid Feeding Your Bird With

While a black palm cockatoo’s diet is not complicated, certain foods are not ideal for them. 

Avocados

A fatty acid called persin is present in every part of an avocado – starting from its stems to its leaves and fruits. According to a study conducted at the University Of Pretoria, persin is a harmful substance that causes serious health problems if consumed by birds like cockatoos. 

Feeding your black palm cockatoo with avocado can cause weakness, heart problems, respiratory disorders, or even death.

Salt

While you can feed your cockatoo with a limited amount of nuts from time to time, you should never give them the salted ones. Even the slightest amount of salt can cause electrolyte imbalance in your feathered companion.

Feeding your black palm cockatoo with anything that has salt can also mess up the balance of its bodily fluids. Fluid imbalance can result in dehydration, kidney failure, and death. 

Fruit Pits And Seeds

While fruits are healthy foods for your cockatoo, feeding them with fruits without removing the seeds and pits can be detrimental. The reason is that some fruits have toxic seeds and pits for birds. These fruits include:

• berries
• apricots
• pears
• apples
• nectarines
• peaches
• cherry pits

The seeds and pits of these fruits contain a small amount of cyanide compounds, which can kill your feathered companion. 

Still, it is essential to note that these fruits are beneficial to your cockatoo as long as you de-seed them. 

Chocolate

Chocolate and any food that contains caffeine are not ideal for black palm cockatoos. A sip of coffee or a bite of chocolate may be delicious, but they can cause the death of your pet. Consuming caffeine can lead to arrhythmia, a rapid increase in your pet’s heart rate, hyperactivity, and heart attack. 

Common Illnesses And Treatment For A Black Palm Cockatoo

Telling whether your feathered companion is sick or is simply bored is easy. A sick black palm cockatoo has puffy feathers and may have fluid coming out of its eyes. 

Feather Plucking

According to Plumage Disorders In Psittacine Birds, the most common health problem presented by parrots like black palm cockatoos is feather plucking. This illness commonly comes from stress and boredom. To prevent your pet from plucking its feathers, give them enough activities and exercises to keep them occupied. 

Sarcocystosis

A protozoan parasite causes sarcocystosis. The parasite infects the bird’s soft tissues, leading to the buildup of cysts in its organs. 

Sarcocystosis targets a black palm cockatoo’s nervous system, respiratory tract, muscles, and kidneys. 

If your feathered companion shows sarcocystosis symptoms, such as lethargy, breathing distress, and weakness, it is important to bring it to a veterinarian immediately. The vet will either give your pet an oral shot or an injection of anti-protozoal medication.

Fatty Tumors

Genetics, hypothyroidism, and poor diet can cause fatty tumors to form on the organs of your black palm cockatoo. If you notice that your pet is becoming fat, although you are not changing its diet, chances are a tumor is growing inside it. You may also see lumps on the body of your pet. 

Fortunately, fatty tumors usually respond and go away when a black palm cockatoo undergoes nutritional therapy. 

Who Should Own A Black Palm Cockatoo

There is no denying black palm cockatoos are attractive birds due to their beauty and intelligence. But while they can be pets, it is worth noting that these birds are not meant for everyone.

Taking care of a black palm cockatoo is a constant must. You will also need to spend money consistently on feeding, grooming, and keeping it healthy and active. For this reason, you should only get a black palm cockatoo if you can handle such obligations and requirements. 

You also need ample space when caring for this bird. Apart from its large cage requirement, this bird needs to go out of its enclosure and fly around regularly. For this reason, your living condition must accommodate its active nature. 

Moreover, a black palm cockatoo owner should have enough time to spend bonding with this bird. Black palm cockatoos are temperamental, so they require firm and consistent training. You may want to consider other cockatoo species if you have a daily outdoor obligation, such as work. 

With all these care requirements combined, it is evident that only dedicated and patient pet owners should get a black palm cockatoo. 

Final Thoughts About Getting A Black Palm Cockatoo

Black palm cockatoos can cost around $15,000 or even more. A large enclosure, food, and grooming are also additional expenses.

Black palm cockatoos are not as affectionate as other birds but are very needy and attention-seeking. They quickly get bored, so you need to spend constant and undivided attention bonding with them. These birds also need enough room and activities to keep them busy.

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