A day-old chick does not yet regulate its temperature and arrives after a night transport: the first 72 hours condition the health and uniformity of the entire flock. This is precisely the period during which the NEXTEKCI WhatsApp support assists each client after receipt. Here is the complete protocol.
Even before arrival: the room must be ready
The first mistake, the most costly, is to receive the chicks in a cold room. The heat must be turned on before arrival, not after. Prepare:
- a reliable heat source and a room without drafts;
- dry, clean, non-toxic litter;
- clean drinkers, filled with warm water (never cold) before the arrival of the batch;
- feeders and starter feed within reach.
If the room has just been disinfected, ventilate it completely before installing the batch: post-disinfection ventilation is one of the 3 critical errors of the first week identified by the NEXTEKCI team.
H hour: receiving the batch
In Abidjan (Yopougon), the chicks arrive on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 6 am. Be present and reachable: coordination with the carrier is done via WhatsApp, at an agreed handover point.
Once in the chick rearing area, calmly open the boxes and check the ventilation. Each NEXTEKCI box contains exactly 50 chicks, with complete identification of the batch.
Absolute priority: provide water quickly
After transport, the priority is warm water, immediately, even before feed. Cold water shocks the chicks and delays the start. On the advice of your technical supervisor, the water can be vitaminised. Feed quickly after watering with the starter feed.
The following hours: observe, sort, adjust
Observe the batch for 2 to 3 hours. The behaviour of the chicks is your best thermometer:
- chicks huddled together: they are cold, increase the heat;
- chicks away from the source: it is too hot, reduce it;
- chicks well distributed: the temperature is good.
Isolate weak subjects, respect the recommended density, and provide soft lighting. A density that is too high increases stress, crushing, and competition at the drinker.
Day 1 to Day 3: the routine that secures
During the first three days, keep a simple routine: check the heat and litter every day, maintain clean and temperate water, observe the behaviour of the batch morning and evening. Limit entries into the room: dedicated shoes, hand washing, and minimise visitors.
Never face a doubt alone
Weak subjects, abnormal mortality, strange behaviour: do not guess. Send photos or videos to the NEXTEKCI WhatsApp Info (+225 05 44 83 27 79) for quick advice. The support covers the 72 hours following receipt, and micro-guides J0–J7 are available on request: batch reception, routine J0–J3, density and light, hygiene and biosecurity.
A successful start leaves nothing to chance: a warm room before arrival, immediate warm water, attentive observation, and a reachable hatchery. This is the entire promise of the NEXTEKCI slogan: "every client is a satisfied poultry farmer."