Abstract: A visit to TAF Agri-Tourism Farm, located in Anyomorem parish, Lira City East Division revealed that an incubator is used for the production of local chicken and is being commercialized. Reportedly domesticated around 5,000 BC in Southeast Asia, chicken is globally kept and as of 2018, with the introduction and use of modern solar-powered, electricity-powered or fuel powered incubators, the number of chickens increased to about 23.7 billion. In sub-Sahara Africa, and Uganda (which had about 1,274 incubators as of 2014), most farmers still hold-on to the traditional reproduction of chicks as opposed to using incubator. The ZFF Thermal Air Hova-Bator was preferred by TAF Agri-Tourism Farm due to its economical and efficient benefits. The outcome of these aspects were found to be major: that this type of incubator which has a temperature and humidity regulator needs to be placed in a dark room without open windows in order to control light; and that it is able to incubate and hatch a maximum of 200 chicks and any one round of hatchery period. In the incubator, eggs are turned frequently between 4-17 days and thereafter locked completely until they are hatched. After hatching, chicks are transferred to the brooder, and later to a growing wing. Upon maturity, excess cockerels are sold-off. The farm management uses internet to advertise or receive payments but make a physical delivery of chicken to its customers.
Keywords: Egg incubation, chicken, smart farming, TAF agri-tourism, brooder.
Title: Enhancing smart farming through egg-incubation technology: A micro-study in lira city, mid-north Uganda
Author: Alex Oboi, David Mwesigwa
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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