How Much Does a Peacock Cost?

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

A peacock is a large bird, recognized for its colorful, long, lavish, distinctive tail feathers. Part of the pheasant family, the male peacock is called a peafowl while a female is known as a peahen. The difference between the two is that the females tend to have a brown and grey tone with a pinch of yellow color.

Peacocks can frequently be found on ranches where they are reproduced, and the price for one will be dependent on the size, weight, geographical area, and also the individual selling it. So how much do peacocks cost?

How much does a peacock cost?

Grown peacocks can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as $295, on average. Those birds that have straight toes with no problems are going to be much closer to the higher end, while birds with a flaw, such as a black spot or poor toes, can be in the $40 to $70 array. There are also varieties that may cost $1,000, $2,000, or more, depending on how rare they are.

Chicks, known as peachicks cost anywhere from $10 to $30.

Hatching peacock eggs can set you back anywhere from $45 to $85. Many breeders will require that a minimum of 4 eggs are bought at once.

We did some research on various peacock breeds and listed the price standards as seen below.

You can find regular sellers on local sites, classified listings, or Facebook marketplace listings. The United Peafowl Association also has listings split by state for official registered breeders.

Peacock Type

• Black Shoulder – $50 to $100
• Cameo – $200 to $250
• India Blue – $50 to $75
• Pied – $175 to $250
• Spalding – $75 to $125
• White – $200 to $250

Owning a Peacock

A lot of farms will need that these birds are bought locally. As a result of the size and also health and wellness problems, many farms will not ship them out of state, however, if the delivery can be done by breeders, the price can start at $100.

Also check out the cost to own a: bird, finger monkey, and a goat.

Since these birds can fly, a fenced cage will be required. Bear in mind that the peacock is known to have a wingspan of six feet, so it will be necessary that there is adequate room. WikiHow.com, as an example, recommends building a fence a minimum of eight feet high with poultry cable closing it.

While upkeep is rather simple for these birds, make sure to factor in the food cost per month. In captivity, these birds will consume food such as corn, fruit, nuts, reptiles, and wheat. They also eat a variety of insects like crickets, worms, and ants. Plan on budgeting about $10 to $15 each month.

So although buying a healthy peacock can be pretty expensive depending on what you get and you will also have to get a pen for it, the day-to-day expenses should be minimal. THe average price per month is $15 to $50, depending on the number of birds and the quality of your land.

Tips to remember:

Ensure that you don’t jam-pack the chicks as overcrowding can create a lot of harm.

Be sure the water stays clean at all times. When possible, clean the water tank at least once a week.

Smaller-sized peachicks will frequently eat foods high in proteins as this will aid the smaller chicks to grow at a healthy and balanced rate.

Some people frequently wonder if a peacock can fly. The answer? Yes, they can fly; however, not extremely much or really high.

How can I save money?

The majority of birds are most likely to have to be bought locally. It is best to get in touch with a local farmer to find birds that fit your demands. Remember that eggs, as well as chicks, can go fairly fast once ready for sale. If there is a waiting list, it is highly recommended that you sign up to make sure that one can be kept.

Take into consideration checking the local newspapers or classified advertisements such as Craigslist to locate breeders that sell these birds.

Individuals thinking about keeping a Peafowl as a family pet need to understand that it is not an indoor family pet. Around the globe, Peacocks and Peahens are a spectacular sight in backyards and around residential properties. In numerous Eastern European suburban areas, it is a desired lawn “decor”. There are just 3 types of Peafowl (the cumulative name for Peacock and Peahen). Still, there are most likely around 2 hundred sub-species identified. The most typical of all is the Blue Peafowl and its sub-species.

Peafowl Basics

Collective name: Peafowl

Male: Peacock

Female: Peahen

Young: Peachick

The Three Main Species of Peafowl

Species of Peacock:

Indian (Blue) (Pavo cristatus), Origin India, South Asia

Green Peacock (Paco muticus), Origin Java and Burma, Asia

Congo Peacock (Afropavo congensis), Origin Congo, Africa

There are three main species of Peacocks: The Javanese (Pavo muticus) or the Green peafowl, the Indian (Pavo cristatus) also known as the India Blue, and the African (Afropavo congensis) or the Congo peafowl, which isn’t popular in the United States.

The Congo Peacock isn’t available in the US for two main reasons. For one, it is an endangered species.

The second reason is that this bird doesn’t look like your normal peacock. It looks more like a wild turkey mixed with both the other breeds of peacocks. They come with a short and thick, beautiful tail that flairs up, and a patch of bright colors. Although still cute, this bird is surely different.

The Java Green and Subspecies

The lesser-known of the two main species of peacocks, the green peafowl can still be found in the United States. Interestingly enough, the bloodline of this bird has been mixed with the Indian Blue to make the Spalding peacock that is sold for anywhere between $75 and $150 dollars. The green peafowl isn’t as vocal as other species, having a lower voice as well. They have a less fan-shaped tail that is tighter and taller.

They are also known as the pure Java Green and their sub-species are pretty hard to find. This is why finding a breeder that wants to sell Java Greens will set you back around $2,000.

The three subspecies are:

• Pavo muticus-specifier
• Pavo  muticus-imperator
• Pavo muticus-muticus

Indian Blue Peacock breeds and Color Mutations

The classic peacock you see in Western drawings and storybooks is Indian Blue. The standard-looking blue peacock price is between $50 and $75 each. They are usually bought for their beauty, but they will also be easy to keep and will eat the bugs from your property.

However, if you want to make sure you’re getting a healthy Indian Blue along with all the needed paperwork, then we advise you to buy from a member of the United Peafowl Association, a top breeder with a lot of reviews. Expect India Blues to be considerably more expensive. Someone reported paying $1,355 per eight non-gendered day-old chicks of this species. You will also spend $525 for a pair of yearlings and $650 for a 2-year-old breeding pair.

There are currently around 225 known color mutations of India Blues approved by the United Peafowl Association, created through selective breeding. Of course, there are also other peacock variations that aren’t approved by this association. But just because a variation exists, it doesn’t mean that a breeding category has to be made.

Just like with any other animal breeding association, this one also has official guidelines and parameters on all color variations that are approved. The lists include not only color percentages but also where these colors should pop up. Specimens that will come with random colors or patches that aren’t inside the approved percentages will be “flawed”, which means they will also be cheaper.

Here are some other types of peacocks that are currently sold.

Cameo Peafowl

The males of the cameo variety will have chocolate brown crests and heads and white facial skin. The train and wings are browns and light tans. This creates a creamy bird that has some brown accents, with a look similar to a bride.

Expect to pay $200 to $300 for one of these birds. A breeding pair will be sold together for $600 to $800.

Black-Shouldered Peafowl

This variety isn’t actually a color mutation but a pattern mutation. Expect a cost of $50 to $120 per bird if getting them from a local seller. Breeders will sell additional subcategories of this variety like the Montana Black Shoulder, Black Shoulder Silver Pied, Split Charcoal, or Midnight. Depending on the actual subspecies, the price will be between $200 and over $1,0000.

White Peacock Price

The white peafowl is one of the most popular mutations you’d hear about. It’s important to note that these birds are not albino. They have a gene that creates an absence of color in their adult feathers instead.

It’s usually impossible outside of a blood test to tell whether a newly born peacock will be back shoulder, white, or any other variety. All chicks will be light yellow at birth, very similar to chickens. This will tell you nothing about their future looks.

Regardless of how you acquire them and from where white peafowls will still be considered special. Your standard white will cost around $200 to $300. An official breeding pair will be three times this price, at about $700 to $800 for two.

Violette Peafowl

It will be almost impossible to find a Violette Peacock at an individual that isn’t an official breeder. This is because these birds are very rare. They will have dark violet feathers with beetle green, black, or purple tails. Expect to pay over $1,000 for a pair of these wonderful birds.

Details provided below are typical for a Blue (Indian) Peacock as this species and its sub-species are the most typical to be kept as pets.

Lifespan: 10-25 years

Weight: Female: average 5.5-6.6 lbs (2.5-3 kg) Male: average 6.6-13 lbs (3-6 kg)

Length: Female: 2-3ft (80cm to 1m) Male: 6ft and more (2m and more)

Did you know? Every year after the breeding season, Peacock birds lose all their vibrant train feathers in just one day!

Interesting Facts About Peacocks

• The train can grow over 9ft (3m) long
• Adult peacocks lose their plumes after the reproducing season which takes place in the summer season
• It takes about 7 months for the brand-new, full-length train to grow back
• By winter season, their feathered train grow half of the length
• Young Peacock’s train develops completely after 3 years of age
• Peacock ends up being fully grown and all set to mate after the age of 2