IoT-Based Smart Egg Incubation System for Improved Hatchability in Small-Scale Poultry Farming

Abstract

This paper presents the design and experimental evaluation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart egg incubation system developed for small-scale poultry farming applications. Conventional manual incubation practices suffer from inconsistent temperature and humidity regulation, leading to low hatch rates typically limited to 50–60% and requiring intensive manual labor. The proposed system automates the incubation process using an ESP8266 microcontroller integrated with DHT22 temperature and humidity sensors. Critical incubation conditions of 37.5°C ± 0.3°C (after calibration) and relative humidity between 55–70% are maintained throughout the 21-day incubation cycle. The system includes relay-controlled heating elements, automated egg turning using servo motors, and real-time monitoring through an OLED display. Remote access and monitoring are enabled via Wi-Fi using cloud platforms such as Blynk and ThingSpeak. Experimental evaluation conducted over five complete incubation cycles demonstrated stable temperature control within ±0.3°C and humidity regulation within ±3%. The system achieved an average hatch rate of 92%, representing a significant improvement over manual incubation methods. Energy consumption was measured at approximately 0.15 kWh per day, while manual labor requirements were reduced by nearly 80%. With total hardware costs below $60, the proposed system offers a reliable, energy-efficient, and affordable solution for improving hatchability and productivity in resource-constrained poultry farming environments.