Every beginning of the year, the harmattan blows over Côte d'Ivoire: a dry wind laden with dust, hot days, and noticeably cooler nights — a particularly marked contrast in the north and centre of the country. For a chick rearing operation, this season presents several challenges. Here’s how to manage them.
The trap of day-night fluctuations
The main danger of the harmattan is not the cold itself, but the gap between warm afternoons and cool nights. A day-old chick does not regulate its temperature: the room that seemed well heated at 3pm can become dangerously cool at 3am. The NEXTEKCI rule remains your compass: observe the behaviour of the flock morning and evening. Chicks huddled together are cold — increase the heat, especially at night; chicks far from the heat source are too hot — reduce it; if well distributed, the atmosphere is good.
Dust, the invisible irritant
The air of the harmattan carries fine dust that irritates the respiratory tracts of poultry and settles everywhere — including in drinkers and feeders. Without confining the room, limit the intake of dust-laden air from the prevailing wind, cover or clean water and feed points more frequently, and monitor for respiratory signs in the flock. Clean water renewed daily becomes even more important than usual.
Dry air also dries out the litter — and the chicks
Paradoxically, the harmattan has an advantage: the litter dries quickly. But the very dry air also increases water needs. Ensure that the drinkers do not run dry and that each chick can drink without competition — water consumption is your most reliable alert indicator.
Choosing breeds that withstand
If you are rearing in an area where the harmattan hits hard, the rustic breeds from the NEXTEKCI range — premium red broiler, premium barred grey, premium hybrid — tolerate climatic variations better than strictly industrial breeds. The white broiler type Cobb 500 remains possible with a well-managed building.
Are you starting a flock in the middle of harmattan season? The NEXTEKCI WhatsApp support will assist you 72 hours after receipt, with photos to support: +225 05 44 83 27 79. Chick reservations at +225 07 07 72 78 67.