Smart Egg Incubator System

Chapter 1

Introduction
1.1 Background Information
Egg incubation is the process by which eggs are kept warm under specific temperature and humidity so that the embryo inside can develop and hatch after the specific number of days. The most vital factors of incubation are constant temperature and humidity which has to be maintained over a period of days. Naturally, this process is carried out by the animal either by laying on it called brooding or burying it under the ground using geothermal heat or the heat generated from rotting vegetable material, effectively created to form a giant compost heap. The humidity is also critical. If the air is too dry the egg will lose too much water to the atmosphere, which can make hatching difficult or impossible. As incubation proceeds, the egg will normally become lighter, and the air space within the egg will normally become larger, owing to evaporation from the egg. Therefore to ensure the hatching of the eggs, adequate humidity is much needed. With the development in agricultural sector and its commercialization, this natural process cannot keep pace with the vast increase in the population of the world that has increased demand for food. In order to increase food production to sustain the growing population, devices and mechanisms that can aid agricultural productions are of paramount need. One of such devices is the Egg Incubator. An Egg Incubator is a device that provides constant temperature and humidity for the egg under incubation through hatching, invariably taking up the job of an animal over the specific period of days. This process can be termed artificial.

Smart Egg Incubator System

1.02. Aims of the Project

1. To develop a device that will aid agricultural industry to

increase productivity in poultry production. It is quite obvious that a poultry animal cannot incubate as many eggs as needed for industrial production, therefore, through this project, as little as 50 eggs can be incubated at a time and with a bigger construction as much as 300 eggs can be incubated. 2. To develop a device that will be automatic and user friendly to

reduce stress of monitoring and which will ensure maximum productivity. There are certain characteristics of the natural conditions which must be met to ensure maximum output from the system. This system will be designed to meet such. However, by making it to perform the major functions automatically and the ability to monitor and control it with GSM base function, it will lessen the stress on the operator and will help to avoid human errors which could arise from failure to attend to the incubator as at when due. 3. To develop a device that will be able to incubate different

types of egg, thus reducing the cost of acquiring different types of incubator. Virtually all poultry eggs can be incubated, thus, with this design; it will be possible to use it for incubating various types of eggs. The difference in the conditions necessary for each type of egg will be adjusted using PIC control.

1.03. Objectives of the Project

The project is designed to meet the following characteristics:

Smart Egg Incubator System

1.

Variable Temperature and Humidity for various eggs: this design

is aimed at using the incubator to incubate various types of eggs. These eggs have different incubating conditions; as such the incubator parameters should be adjustable. 2. Automatic Temperature and Humidity control : this is to ensure

that the temperature and humidity are maintained at the required values. 3. Automatic Egg roller: for proper embryonic development, it is

necessary for the egg to be exercised to avoid at least three (3) times a day during the incubation period except for the last 3 days. 4. Use of Programmable Integrated Circuit to control the system :

this will give the opportunity of manipulating the characteristics of the incubator as needed through instructions stored on the PIC as codes and will also reduce the size and weight of electronics components that are required. 5. GSM Based monitoring and Control: the incubator needs adequate

and prompt attention to ensure good result, so, through the GSM Module, the operator will be able to monitor the device by receiving generated SMS on phone and send instruction back to the device if any special action is required. 6. Input keyboard and LCD Display: the input keypad will be used to

input and select data when operating the device, whereas the LCD will display the output to ensure proper monitoring. 7. Optional power backup: due to the epileptic power supply of the

nation, the eggs in the incubator may be affected negatively if the power is out for long, as such, there will be power backup to cater for this shortcoming.

1.04 Scope of the project

Smart Egg Incubator System

The scope is to design a system that can control the temperature and humidity automatically according to the parameters required of the egg under incubation. It will also provide the operator with over distance monitoring and controlling of the incubator with the use of GSM module operation.

1.05 Goals of the Project

1. 2. 3. The incubator will help poultry farmers to increase production. The incubator will be used to incubate different types of egg. The operation of the incubator will be smart, thus lessen human stress

and errors which could arise from lack manual monitoring. 4. It will reduce cost of purchasing different types of incubator for

different egg types.

Smart Egg Incubator System

Chapter 2

Literature Review
2.00 What brought about Egg Incubator?
There are two major issues that resulted to the need for devices such as an egg incubator; the industrialization and commercialization of agricultural sector. With increasing rise in the world population, as expressed by statisticians it was observed that the existing conventional Agricultural practices known would not be able to keep pace with the expected rise in the world population from about 5.3 billion in 1990 to about 9.03 billion in 2020. The need to look for new resources therefore has never been greater than now. Therefore, improvements in such practices are demanded from all sectors of the human existence. In the early age of human race, foods are cultivated for immediate family consumption alone and there was no need for selling and buying. But, as the population increases, people engaged in other aspects of life like engineering works, administration and civil works which reduces the number of those involved agriculture. These people needed food to survive and as such those who choose to remain in agriculture needed to expand their production in order to have something left to sell. By this, commercialization of agriculture started. However, with the advent of industrialization, where there is organized economic activity connected with the production, manufacture, and or

Smart Egg Incubator System

construction of a particular product or range of products, the need for devices that will aid and increase the productions are much necessary. One major way through which production has been increased in agriculture is through the mechanization of processes. Mechanization which is use machinery to do something: to change a process so that it is performed by machinery instead of human or animal labour. Through this much more can be produced with less effort and in lesser time.

2.01 Embryo Development (based on hen)

Growth of the Embryo; the fertilized blastodisc (now called the blastoderm) grows and becomes the embryo. As the embryo grows, its primary food source is the yolk. Waste products (like urea) collect in a sack called the allantois. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide gas occurs through the eggshell; the chorion lines the inside surface of the egg and is connected to the blood vessels of the embryo. During the Incubation Period; the embryo develops inside the egg for 21 days, until a chick pecks its way out of its eggshell and is hatched. The stages of the development are highlighted below. These stages are similar for all egg types except the variation of days of incubation. Developments The yolk is dropped from the ovary into the unfundibilum where it is fertilised by the male sperm if present. The embryo commences development while the yolk travels down the egg canal. Here it receives coatings of white. The egg progresses to the shell gland where it receives membranes and forms the shell itself. This process takes approximately 20 hours, in Days Fertilization and first 24hours

Smart Egg Incubator System

which time the embryo grows to about 4mm in diameter. The egg is laid. After the egg is laid it cools and growth slows or stops. Many birds (but not all) accumulate a clutch of eggs before commencing incubation. During this storage time temperature is preferably between 0 and 20C but some species tolerate more extreme temperatures. However, embryonic death is a risk if extremes are maintained. In the first day of incubation a line called the primitive streak appears. This allows the formation of a third layer of cells. From these new cells the organs of the body will form. The cells are made up in three layers called ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Ectoderm nervous forms system, the skin, feathers, and beak, mouth. claws eyes 2 days

Mesoderm forms the skeleton, muscle, blood and reproductive organs. Endoderm forms the respiratory organs, secretary system and digestive system. By the end of the first days incubation, the head, eyes, nervous system and blood island have started to form. The heart is formed on the second day and is functioning by 44 hours. On the fourth day the heart changes from its simple form and becomes a fully formed beating heart. During this time extra membranes are formed to produce the amniotic sack. The embryo will now float in the amniotic fluid for the rest of 4 days

Smart Egg Incubator System

incubation. The amniotic fluid and turning of the egg ensure the embryo orients itself correctly for hatching. By the fourth day, legs and wing buds begin to form and the heart is still positioned outside the body. By six days the legs and wings are almost complete, and by eight days feathers are appearing. On the 9th day the embryo starts to look like a chick. The heart is now within the body with blood circulation to the outside via the umbilicus. By ten days the bones are now being formed. Thirteen days into incubation and the down is apparent and is coloured. By sixteen days the beak, leg scales and claws are almost complete. The albumen is used up with just the yolk remaining. The amniotic fluid decreases and the yolk then acts as a food source. By the nineteenth day the yolk is incorporated into the body. The ability of the embryo or now chick, to get oxygen through the shell and into the blood system is now limited. The carbon dioxide levels in the blood therefore rise dramatically, which causes twitches in the chicks neck muscle. The beak then forces its way into the air cell at the large end of the egg. 20 days 17 days 14 days 10 days

Smart Egg Incubator System

The beak now opens for the first time and the lungs inflate. This causes the blood system to circulate within the lungs. This is time of great stress for the chick, where any deficiencies become apparent. The stress is so much that it will kill chicks that are not strong enough, usually those who have a lack of group B vitamins. The chick continues to try to breath in earnest, which causes more twitching and hopefully a breakout through the shell. This process forces the beak out and chips a small hole in the shell. The legs push the chick slightly to the side so next time there is a twitch the next piece of shell will fall off. This continues all the way round the shell until the end of the shell falls off. The chick has an egg tooth, which helps with this hatching process. The tooth falls off soon after hatching. After the end falls off the chick kicks itself out of the shell. The old blood vessels and membranes remain in the shell. 21 days

2.02 Basics of an Egg Incubator

The basics of an egg incubator are the temperature and humidity. For a successful and high hatchability of the eggs under incubation, the temperature and the humidity conditions must be maintained at certain levels during the incubation process.

Smart Egg Incubator System

These basics can be further breakdown as a result of researches on ways to improve the functionality of the egg incubator. It is realized that all bird eggs require five environmental conditions to be controlled to enable the correct development of the embryo: The egg must be maintained at the right temperature to enable the metabolic processes within the developing embryo to occur at the correct rate. The egg loses water through pores in the shell. The humidity of the air around it must be controlled to ensure the right amount of water is lost over the incubation period. The egg must be frequently turned and carefully positioned so that the embryo passes through fresh nutrients in the white of the egg, while forming in the correct position for hatching. The egg breathes so there must be a supply of fresh air to provide oxygen and to remove waste carbon dioxide. Eggs are susceptible to infection so the incubator must provide a clean, disinfected environment.

2.03 Types of Egg Incubator

Incubators may be classed as Still Air, Forced Draft and Contact types according to how air is circulated. Contact incubators are a new generation of machines designed to mimic natural incubation much more closely.

2.03.1

Still air incubators

Smart Egg Incubator System

Still air incubators are the most basic form of incubator. A still air incubator is basically an insulated box consisting of: A Heating element A Thermostat or temperature controller to control temperature Egg tray A thermometer to measure the air temperature A tray for water Some machines may have an hygrometer for humidity measurement Some machines may have turning mechanism for automatic turning of eggs The air inside a still air incubator is circulated by convection. As the air is heated it expands and rises to the top of the incubator. The amount of airflow achieved in a still air machine is therefore determined by the ratio of air temperature inside the box to outside. The lower the air temperature outside the box, the greater the airflow inside. To achieve good air circulation, air inlets are usually positioned in the base and top of the incubator, so that fresh air enters through the base and warm air leaves through the top. Inside a still air incubator, the warm air moves towards the top so different temperatures will be recorded at different levels. It is therefore important that a still air incubator is kept on a level surface and that eggs are all of similar size.

Smart Egg Incubator System

2.03.1

Forced Draft Incubator

The forced draft machine was developed to overcome temperature gradient problems throughout the incubator. In a forced draft incubator a fan is used to circulate the air, which gives a uniform temperature throughout the machine. The air temperature surrounding the egg is therefore constant and positioning of the thermometer and temperature sensor is less critical. Eggs, too, can be of differing size and set in trays at different levels. Using a forced draft incubator also allows the use of a Wet Bulb Thermometer, which can be used for the accurate reading of humidity. It is of more importance to control humidity in a forced air machine to prevent the higher airflow drying the eggs.

Smart Egg Incubator System

2.03.1

Contact Incubators

Contact Incubation mimics the natural incubation process that occurs in the nest. The most striking difference between natural and artificial incubation is the fact that the natural parent provides warmth by contact rather than surrounding the egg with warm air. This may not at first sight seem significant but important research studies carried out by J. Scott Turner at New York State University and the University of Cape Town has revealed major unsuspected differences in thermal behaviour of eggs incubated by contact rather than convection. Crucially, eggs in a forced draft incubator have near uniform temperature throughout incubation; there will be some increase in embryonic temperature towards the end of incubation as a result of increased metabolism but otherwise the whole egg will remain near incubator air temperature. By contrast, eggs incubated naturally or by contact, have significant temperature differences. Heat is entering the egg over a relatively small brood patch, which is therefore warmer than other

Smart Egg Incubator System

regions of the egg and is being lost from most of the remaining shell area, which is cooler.

In contact incubation, the embryo temperature tends to fall at later stages of incubation as a result of the embryos own blood circulation which becomes significantly more important than embryonic metabolism in determining temperature distribution and heat flow within the egg, quite contrary to previous understanding which assumed metabolism to be dominant and cause egg temperature to rise. The inevitable fact that the embryo grows larger and must move from its original position on top of the yolk sack downwards in the egg to cooler regions also tends to reduce embryonic temperature as incubation progresses. These important findings emphasize surprising differences between natural and artificial incubation, but there are others. Eggs in nature are certainly subjected to a cycle of warming and cooling coupled with ventilation as the parent bird leaves the nest to feed and defend territory.

Smart Egg Incubator System

The first manufactured contact incubator, Brinseas Contaq incubator should be viewed as replacing the natural Bird and Nest combination. The lid with the attached skin mimics the functions of an incubating parent; providing warmth by contact with the tops of eggs, but also the facility to lift from the eggs periodically and in doing so, causes a substantial influx of fresh air in the manner of a bird standing or leaving the nest. The skin is gently but firmly pressed against the eggs by a low positive pressure of air, ensuring good thermal conduction. The egg chamber substitutes for the nest in providing a safe, protected environment for the eggs, with provision for air to be induced through the nest material which enables the operator to exercise control over the degree of ventilation of eggs. Nests of different species have very different characteristics, particularly with respect to gas permeability. This in turn affects water loss from eggs, so it is necessary to adjust the amount of nest material accordingly. Where required, additional humidity is introduced to the egg chamber automatically. The ideal combination of nest material and humidity setting is best determined by weighing eggs and monitoring water loss. The egg chamber is not directly heated.

2.04 Incubation Conditions

The table bellow presents the basic incubation conditions for various eggs, classifying them under the types of incubators. The eggs should be turned at least two (2) times and not more than five (5) times in a day, while there should be no turning during the last three (3) days of the incubation. The humidity, during the last three (3) days is expected to be raised by about 30%. This is to make the shell soft and easy to crack by the hatching baby.

Smart Egg Incubator System Species of Egg Incubatio Still / Forced Air Contact n Incubation Incubation Period Temperat Humidit Temperat Humidity ure y ure RH% (Days) C (F) RH% C (F) Hens Pheasant Partridge Quail Ducks Geese Falcons Merlins Kestrels Barn Owl Tawny Owl Snowy Owl Amazons (Parrots) Macaws (Parrots) 21 23-27 23 24 16-23 28 28 32 31 33 28 32 27 29 30 29 33 24 29 28 30 37.3 (99.1) 37.3 (99.1) 37.5 (99.5) 37.3 (99.1) 37.5 (99.5) 37.3 (99.1) 37.5 (99.5) 37.3 (99.5) 37.0 (98.6) 37.5 (99.5) 40 50 40 50 40 50 40 50 45 55 45 55 40 45 50 50 50 50 50 35 45 35 45 39.0 (102.2) 39.0 (102.2) 39.5 (103.1) 39.7 (103.5) 39.5 (103.1) 39.7 (103.5) 39.5 (103.1) 39.5 (103.1) 39.0 (102.2) 39.5 (103.1) 40 50 40 50 40 - 50 40 50 45 55 45 55 40 45 50 50 50 50 50 35 45 35 45

Smart Egg Incubator System

Love Birds (Parrots) African Grey (Parrots) Sulphur Cockatoo (Parrots)

22 24 26 28

37.3 (99.1) 37.3 (99.1) 37.3 (99.1) 37.3 (99.1) 36.0 (96.8) 37.0 (98.6) 36.4 (97.5)

35 45 35 45

39.0 (102.2) 39.0 (102.2) 39.0 (102.2) 39.0 (102.2) 38.0 (100.4) 39.0 (102.2) 38.4 (101.0)

35 45 35 45

29 31

35 45

35 45

Electus (Parrots) 28 Rhea Emu Ostrich 35 40 49 52 40 43

35 45 20 25 20 25 20 40

35 45 20 25 20 25 20 40

This project work is based on the forced draft/forced air incubator, with improvements on display and user monitoring and controlling via the usage of GSM.