Peacock chick prices range from $5 to $50 each, depending on the bird's age, color variety, and the seller
A newly hatched peacock chick typically costs $5 to $15 if you buy from a hatchery or breeder who has many birds. A chick that is a few weeks old and already eating on its own runs $15 to $30. Rare color varieties — such as white, spalding, or midnight blue — cost $25 to $50 or more per chick. The price also shifts based on whether the breeder is local (lower shipping cost) or distant (you pay to ship a live bird), and whether you are buying one chick or several.
Most backyard keepers buy chicks in spring, when hatcheries have the most stock. Prices tend to be lowest then because supply is high. Buying in fall or winter costs more because fewer chicks are available and you are paying to heat a brooder indoors through cold months.
Key Takeaways
- Standard peacock chicks cost $5 to $15 each from hatcheries, while rare colors cost $25 to $50 or more.
- Shipping a live chick adds $15 to $30 to your total cost and requires an insulated box with heat packs.
- Spring is the cheapest season to buy because hatcheries have the most chicks and prices are lowest.
- You will need a brooder setup (heat lamp, bedding, feeders) that costs $50 to $150 before the chick arrives home.
- Rare varieties like white or spalding peacocks cost two to three times more than standard blue birds.
Where to buy peacock chicks and what prices look like
Hatcheries that specialize in game birds and ornamental poultry sell chicks by mail order. Places like Cackle Hatchery, Murray McMurray Hatchery, and Metzer Farms list peacock chicks on their websites with prices updated each season. You can also search for local breeders through the United Peafowl Association or by asking at county fairs and poultry shows. Local breeders often charge the same per-chick price as hatcheries but save you the shipping fee.
Online marketplaces like Facebook groups for backyard poultry sometimes have breeders selling chicks, but prices vary widely and you have no may provide of the bird's health or genetics. Buying from an established hatchery or registered breeder gives you a written health may provide and the seller's reputation to stand behind the bird.
How shipping costs affect your total price
If you order from a hatchery more than a few hours away, you pay a shipping fee of $15 to $30 depending on distance and the carrier. Hatcheries ship chicks in small cardboard boxes with air holes, heat packs, and bedding. The chick must arrive within 24 to 48 hours or it may not survive the journey. Some hatcheries offer a live-arrival may provide, meaning they will replace a chick that dies in transit, but you still pay the original shipping cost.
A local breeder within driving distance lets you pick up the chick yourself, which saves the shipping fee and lets you see the parent birds and the breeder's setup before you commit. This is worth the drive if you are buying more than one chick or want to inspect the birds in person.
Price differences by color variety and genetics
Standard Indian blue peacocks — the most common type — cost $5 to $15 per chick. White peacocks, which are a recessive color mutation, cost $25 to $40 because breeding them requires two white parents or careful line breeding. Spalding peacocks (a cross between Indian blue and green peafowl) cost $20 to $35. Midnight blue, charcoal, and other newer color lines cost $30 to $50 because fewer breeders have them and demand is higher.
Chicks from award-winning bloodlines or birds with documented show records cost more than chicks from backyard breeders. If you are raising peacocks for meat or eggs rather than showing, a standard blue chick is the most economical choice. If you want a rare color for display, expect to pay a premium and possibly wait for the breeder to have chicks available.
Age of the chick and how it affects price
A newly hatched chick (day-old) costs the least because it requires the most care. You must have a brooder with a heat lamp, specific bedding, and chick starter feed ready before it arrives. A chick that is one to two weeks old costs slightly more but is hardier and easier to raise. A chick that is three to four weeks old costs $20 to $35 because it no longer needs constant heat and can eat regular poultry feed.
Older chicks are less risky for a first-time keeper because they are past the most fragile stage. However, they take up more space in a brooder and grow faster, so you need larger housing sooner. Most backyard keepers buy day-old or week-old chicks because the lower price offsets the extra work.
What you need to buy before the chick arrives
The chick itself is only part of the cost. You will need a brooder — a box or enclosure with a heat lamp, thermometer, and bedding — that costs $30 to $100 depending on size and materials. Pine shavings or paper bedding run $10 to $20 for a month's supply. A heat lamp and bulb cost $20 to $40. Chick starter feed (a high-protein crumble) costs $15 to $25 for a 25-pound bag that lasts several weeks.
You also need feeders and waterers designed for chicks, which cost $10 to $20 total. A thermometer to monitor brooder temperature is essential and costs $5 to $10. By the time the chick arrives, you should have spent $50 to $150 on setup. This is a one-time cost if you plan to raise multiple chicks, but it is a real expense to factor in before you buy the bird.
Seasonal price changes and when to buy
Spring (March through May) is peak hatching season. Hatcheries have the most chicks available and prices are at their lowest because supply is high. Summer prices stay moderate but selection narrows as the season goes on. Fall and winter prices rise because fewer chicks are being hatched and you are paying to heat a brooder indoors during cold months, which increases your electricity cost.
If you are budget-conscious, order in early spring when prices are lowest and chicks are plentiful. If you miss spring, expect to pay 20 to 30 percent more in summer and fall. Some hatcheries stop taking orders in late fall and do not resume until January or February, so plan ahead if you want chicks in a specific month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a single peacock chick or do I have to buy multiple?
Most hatcheries have a minimum order of three to five chicks because a single chick is harder to raise — it has no siblings to huddle with for warmth and can become lonely. Some local breeders will sell one chick if you ask. Buying three chicks costs roughly $15 to $45 total, which is not much more than one, and they survive better together.
What is the difference between a peacock chick and a peahen chick?
Peacock chicks (males) and peahen chicks (females) cost the same at hatch. You cannot tell them apart by appearance until they are several months old. If you want a specific sex, ask the hatchery or breeder if they can sex the chicks — some can do this accurately, others cannot. Unsexed chicks are cheaper because the seller is not guaranteeing the sex.
Do hatcheries may provide the chick will be healthy?
Most hatcheries offer a live-arrival may provide, meaning they will replace a chick that dies within 48 hours of arrival. However, they do not may provide the chick will survive beyond that point if you do not provide proper heat, food, and water. Chicks are fragile and require exact brooder temperatures (95°F the first week, dropping 5°F each week). Read the hatchery's may provide terms before you order.
Is it cheaper to buy eggs and hatch them myself?
Peacock eggs cost $3 to $10 each and require an incubator ($30 to $200), careful temperature and humidity control, and 28 days of waiting. If the hatch fails or the chick dies in the shell, you lose the entire investment. For most people, buying a chick is simpler and more reliable than incubating eggs, even though the per-bird cost is slightly higher.
Can I find peacock chicks at a feed store?
Most local feed stores carry chicken and duck chicks in spring but rarely stock peacock chicks because demand is low. Call ahead to ask if they can order peacock chicks from a hatchery for you. If not, ordering directly from a hatchery or finding a local breeder is your best option.