The Moluccan Cockatoo Price (Plus 13 Things To Know About The Moluccan)

The Moluccan Cockatoo is a vast and long-lived bird that’s very affectionate and has some striking appearances. Its unique qualities have made it one of the world’s most popular birds that can improve your life. But they can be very demanding regarding attention seeking and time.

So if you’re ready for this bird, you must wonder how much they cost. Or how much will it cost to set it up and keep it healthy for years? Another crucial question you may ask yourself is, can I get a Moluccan cockatoo for less than $1,000?

Despite its size and unique features, the Moluccan cockatoo is not the most expensive parrot. These birds go for between $1000 and $3000 from the breeder. But if you’re working with a small budget, you can adopt one from the many animal rescue organizations in the country.

Moluccan Cockatoo is an exceptional bird that makes a great pet among experienced individuals. They may not be ideal for beginners, but for experienced bird keepers, they can be a perfect addition to their families. So in this article, we’ll talk more about the Moluccan cockatoo price and where you can find them. We’ll also elaborate more on the other charges you might incur when adopting it for the first time.

So let’s dive right in.

Moluccan Cockatoo Overview

Native to Indonesia, the Moluccan cockatoo is one of the biggest white cockatoos on the planet, weighing about 1.87lb. The female Moluccan cockatoo is smaller than their male counterparts but makes exceptional pets. They have whitish-pink feathers with a unique peachy glow. The underwing and underside of their tail feathers are slightly yellow.

The bird’s crest resembles the color of flamingos, according to Wikipedia. Plus, it produces one of the loudest calls of all the parrots. 

They can easily mimic our voice in captivity and even learn a few words. Therefore, with proper training and care, they can make exceptional pets. However, they’re sensitive creatures that can become agitated if neglected.

Moluccan Cockatoo Price: The One-Time Costs You’ll Incur When Adopting A New Cockatoo

Due to their long lifespan of up to 80 years, caring for a cockatoo can be pretty costly, particularly when adopting it. It is a vast and demanding bird; too much attention can produce adverse effects, so you’ll need lots of toys. You can spend more time training it and bonding in the process.

Fortunately, some of the enormous expenses are one-time costs, including the price of the bird and cages. So, it would be best if you prepared to pay between $5,000 and $10,000.when starting. On top of that, you should be ready to pay up to $800 every year for food, pet insurance, and checkup.

3 Ways You Can Adopt A Moluccan Cockatoo

Various factors determine the price of the Moluccan cockatoo. These factors include:

• The breeder: depending on their facilities, some birds can be costly.
• Bird’s age: the older ones tend to be cheaper than younger ones. So if you can’t afford a 6-month-old option, you should buy a mature bird.
• Where the breeder lives
• Quality of the bird

There are several ways you can get a cockatoo of any given age. You can get it free from a breeder, shelter, or friends and family members. 

But you should know that the price varies with the source of the Moluccan cockatoo. To help you understand, we’ll elaborate more on each one of them:

1. Adopt From Friends And Family Members For Free

If you’re lucky, you can quickly get a cockatoo free of charge. You can get this bird for free from someone rehoming a pet or from a friend. But before you adopt one for free, you should learn more about the bird; you don’t want to get one with a costly health condition.

Luckily, most owners give away their pets for several reasons, the common being a lack of finances. Caring for a substantially demanding bird for many decades is not cheap.

Sometimes, the owner may have passed away, and their kids are not ready to care for the bird. So they put it up for adoption. Either way, you should get the pet’s information and take it to the vet. Have it examined and make sure it gets all the necessary vaccines.

2. Breeder

To be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to stay away from the free options or the shelter and get one from the local breeders. And that’s because the breeder will have a variety of Moluccan cockatoos for you to pick from. Although their birds may be costly, they vaccinate, take good care of them, and maintain a reliable medical history.

The price of this bird will vary between $1,000 and $2,000. You might end up paying more cash when dealing with some breeders with a pure breed or the rare Moluccan cockatoos. But the best breeder will help you bird-proof your home and even advise you on caring for your new bird.

Remember, the best time to adopt any bird is immediately after the weaning phase, and the only way you can get a bird at that age is from the breeder. So the breeder may be the best option for Moluccan cockatoo lovers.

3. Rescue Shelter

As mentioned, due to financial constraints, most cockatoo owners surrender their birds to the shelter. Several rescue organizations rescue these birds from poor living conditions and help rehome them. So if you’re working with a tight budget, you should try this option.

You can get one for as low as $35 from an Avian rescue organization. Unfortunately, you will end up with mature birds, which can be challenging to train. Luckily, there are several avian rescue organizations in the U.S., and with proper research and patience; you may get your bird at a lower price.

4. Initial Set-Up Cost And Additional Supply

Besides the bird, you must get some essential things for your new pet. After all, you welcome a new member into your home, and it’s up to you to ensure it’s happy and contented. Therefore, you should be ready to spend on the following initial prices:

5. Housing

A cockatoo can be pretty large compared to other birds, so that it will require a larger cage than the average option. With a big cage, it can quickly fly from one end to the next. The enclosure can accommodate most of its toys, food, and water dishes without feeling crowded.

Therefore, when it comes to cages, the bare minimum should be a cage that measures two ft. by two ft. by three ft., but the bigger the cage, the better. Luckily, there are many options online.

The metal bars should be at least an inch apart, with a metal grate below the cage. The grate will help separate the droppings from the food and water. But most importantly, you should ensure the temperature is constant and in direct sunlight.

6. Toys

You should include some toys in the cage to help stimulate your pet mentally all day. These toys include swings, ropes, puzzles, food, and chewing toys. So you can set aside between $40 and $60.

7. Feeding Requirements

A healthy bird consumes a high-quality pellet diet with grains, veggies, sprouts, fruits, and dietary supplements. Your bird can benefit from seeds and nuts but feed in moderation. The bird pellets make up about 60% of your bird’s diet. But it would help if you stayed away from seed mixes. So you should set aside about $50 every month for food.

8. Grooming ($10 to $20)

Fortunately, grooming birds will not leave a hole in your wallet; its grooming requirements are minimal. Remember, they clean and preen themselves, so you should provide them with some dust to keep their wings and skin healthy. Weekly showers can help you remove the dust.

So you should provide them with the water to clean themselves. You can also trim their overgrown nails and ensure they’re safe and happy.

9. Pet Insurance

Since these birds live for up to 80 years, then pet insurance can come in handy significantly when offsetting medical bills. Fortunately, bird insurance functions like animal insurance, with several companies offering these services. So you should set aside between $15 and $50 annually.

10. Other Expenses

There are lots of annual, monthly, and one-time expenses that you’ll have to incur when adopting a Moluccan cockatoo. Some of these expenses include:

Items	Price
Water/food dishes	$10
Spray bottle	$10
Perches	$20-$30
Nail clippers	$10
Mineral block chews	$5
Vet visits	$55
Supplements	$20-$30

13 Things To Know About The Moluccan

1. Moluccans Are The Largest Cockatoos.

These birds can attain a maximum height of 20 inches and 2 pounds, with the females being more prominent than the males. Their average wingspan is about two ft. Therefore, you should get a huge enclosure if you want to adopt a substantial white cockatoo.

2. They’re Mostly White

Moluccans have whitish feathers, with some of their feathers having perch and pink shades. The females have gray-black beaks, while the males have black beaks. And when threatened or excited, they can raise the salmon-colored feathers on their crests. Despite being mostly white, their crest is their most defining feature.

3. Both Parents Take Part In The Incubation Process

These birds live in huge flocks and separate when the mating season starts. They attain sexual maturity at the ages of 5 or 6. They tend to lay between 2 to 6 eggs which they incubate for up to 30 days. But did you know that they both take part in the incubation process? They sit on the eggs in turn for 30 days.

4. They’re Monogamous

Like most birds, including cockatoos, the Moluccans are monogamous creatures that stay with one partner for life. And when they lose their partners, they can become devastated and depressed for a long time.

5. The Mate Once Per Year

Unlike most birds known for laying three eggs yearly and increasing their flock, the Moluccan cockatoos mate only once annually. These birds breed between December and March when food is available. Therefore, they don’t have to look around for food or migrate and leave their eggs unguarded.

6. They Can Outlive Their Owners

If well-taken care of in captivity and unaffected by diseases or anything beyond our control, these birds can live up to 80 years. One of the oldest cockatoos lived for 92 years.

7. They’re Considered Pests In Coconut Plantations

Thanks to their powerful beaks, these birds can easily attack young coconuts. They can chew through the coconut’s tough exterior to reach the milk and soft pulp. Therefore, coconut farmers consider them a nightmare and do everything possible to keep them away from their plantations.

8. They Can Mimic Several Animal Sounds, Including Humans

Besides being beautiful majestic creatures, these birds can easily mimic several sounds in their surroundings. They can even mimic human sounds so that you can teach them a few words and tricks. The fact that they can mimic sounds makes them quite entertaining, so you should be ready to give them the necessary attention while teaching them a few tricks.

9. Too Much Attention While Young Can Result In Them Developing Destructive Behaviors

It’s a known fact that these birds love attention; without it, they won’t be well-adjusted or healthy. But too much attention while young can result in many problems; after all, they won’t get enough time to play, so you might end up with a spoiled bird that loves cuddling and can become depressed in your absence.

Therefore, you should monitor your bird and not overindulge it with love and affection. Instead, teach it some level of independence. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t socialize with your bird. It means that you should not give it too much affection.

10. They’re Quite Demanding

Some of the most demanding birds on the planet list the Moluccans. They’re social creatures with high emotional and physical expectations. So if you don’t meet their expectations, they can become stressed, and with no time, they can end up self-mutilating. They can pluck their feathers and become quite loud.

They can also act out and destroy their toys and perches while dumping their dishes. So it is a good idea to tame them early and end up with a well-behaved bird. 

11. You Cannot Import The Moluccans To The United States.

The Wild Bird Conservation Act lists them as vulnerable, so importing them to the United States is prohibited. Fortunately, they’re bred in captivity, so you can still adopt a locally bred option and still enjoy the benefits of owning one. And being famous for their beauty, you can train yours and take it to bird shows nationwide.

Illegal trapping and habitat destruction reduced their population; during the height of the pet trade era, people captured over 6,000 birds. Fortunately, authorities banned the illicit trade of these birds in 1989.

12. One Of The Loudest Birds On The Planet

Thanks to its high noise level, the Moluccans are listed among the noisiest bird on the planet. Their calls can reach a level of up to 129 decibels. Therefore, they’re not the best option for people living in apartments or places with neighbors. But with proper training, you can help control its noise levels.

13. They Have Powerful Claws

Most huge birds come with powerful claws; the Moluccans are no exception. These birds are known for holding their food with one food while breaking it into pieces with the other. Therefore, they’re not ideal for children of beginners.

Conclusion

Despite being demanding, the Moluccans are some of the world’s most popular pets, but they don’t make great pets for beginners or kids. Remember, they have mighty claws and beaks, so they can easily attack and injure kids while playing. Unfortunately, they can be pretty costly.

These birds go for between $1,000 and $2,000 with a breeder, but if you’re working with a tight budget, you should try the avian rescue shelters. You can get a cockatoo from the shelters for as low as $35. Besides the bird’s price, you must make several one-time expenses, including cages, water/food bowls, and toys.

To be safe, you’ll have to get bird insurance that can help pay for your medical bills when sick. Your bird can live for over 80 years with proper preparation and maintenance. You can’t import them into the U.S., but you can get them from the local breeders.