This is THE question for future poultry farmers: how many chicks to start with? There is no magic number, but there is a method. Here’s how to think about it, with the concrete benchmarks from the NEXTEKCI hatchery in Agnibilékrou.
The basic benchmark: the box of 50
At NEXTEKCI, day-old chicks are packaged in boxes of 50 chicks, with complete batch identification. This is the order unit:
- 1 box (50 chicks): minimum for collection directly at the hatchery in Agnibilékrou;
- 4 boxes (200 chicks): minimum for delivery by carrier on the routes, including Abidjan.
A first flock of 50 to 200 birds is an excellent learning format: large enough to be serious, small enough to be manageable.
Three questions before setting your number
1. What is the size of your room?
Density matters more than ambition. An overcrowded chick house means more stress, crushing, and competition at the drinker. Size the number of chicks based on the actual available space, not the other way around.
2. How much time can you dedicate to it?
A batch requires daily presence: checking the heat, the litter, the water, observing morning and evening. If you have another activity, start with a number that you can realistically manage.
3. What is your overall budget?
The chick is just part of the cost: you also need starter feed, a heat source, litter, drinkers and feeders, and a reserve for unforeseen expenses. It’s better to have 100 well-fed chicks than 300 rationed chicks.
Start small, grow fast
Many of our clients have followed this path: a modest first flock, lessons learned, then increasingly larger flocks. The white cockerel, NEXTEKCI's economical option, is designed for these first steps, just like the hybrid, balanced between growth and hardiness.
Also consider the schedule
Departures from the hatchery take place every Monday and Thursday at 10 PM, with arrival the following morning depending on your route. Pre-order at least 15 days before departure, and 3 to 4 weeks during peak demand.
Are you still unsure about the right number for your situation? Describe your room and your project on WhatsApp at +225 05 44 83 27 79: a NEXTEKCI advisor will help you for free to size your first flock.