Development of a Solar Powered Poultry Incubator System

Abstract

An incubator is an insulated casing where the natural conditions for the growth, reproduction or hatching of organisms can occur. The efficiency of natural incubation is low because the production level of a brooding hen is limited but the artificial incubation process requires sustainable energy supply to maximize efficiency. A solar powered incubator can provide this. The incubator design was done using solid works after careful calculations. The incubator chamber was made using MDF board. It gives a good finish. Inside the incubator was insulated using Styrofoam. The egg trays were made with mild steel wire mesh. The materials were selected based on durability and cost effectiveness before they were sourced from the local market. The assembling of the incubatI. Ior casing was done using dry wall screws and a hand drill, reinforced with aluminium angles. After assembling and electrical coupling, 10 eggs were placed in the incubator for performance evaluation. Hourly readings were taken for the temperature and humidity level and recorded for 2 days to show the temperature and humidity range. Out of the 10 fertile eggs placed inside the incubator, 9 of them successfully hatched. This gave a hatchability of 90%. Therefore, the solar incubator is a better replacement for the existing ones especially in the rural areas.