- Isah Abdullahi Wapanda, Ateequ Mustapha Salihi, and Silas Edwin Nduku
- NAS Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (NASJSET)
This paper describes the
development and implementation of an egg incubator automation system based on a
microcontroller to solve the problems associated with manual incubation such as
inconsistent temperatures, humidity, and egg-turning periods. The proposed
system utilizes an ATmega328P microcontroller as the main processor, integrated
with a DHT11 sensor, a 16×2 LCD display, and a 12V DC geared motor. The
incubator operates within a range of 37 – 39 °C and 50 – 65 % relative humidity
(RH) for the first 18 days followed by 70 % RH in the last three days, with egg
turns occurring every 4-8 hours at 45° angle. The experimental results show
that 86.7% ± 2.0% of eggs hatched successfully in comparison to the manual
system where only 62.3% ± 4.1% of eggs were successful in hatching, n=60,
p<0.05. Designed using locally available components costing ₦22,275 or less,
the system offers an economical means of automation for small-scale poultry
farms.
Keywords: Egg incubator, microcontroller, DHT11 sensor, temperature/humidity control, automatic egg turning.