A FULLY AUTOMATED BROODING SYSTEM TO REDUCE CHICK MORTALITY IN SMALL-SCALE POULTRY FARMS IN WAYANAD

Abstract

Chick mortality during the brooding period remains a significant challenge in small- and medium-scale poultry farms, particularly due to thermal stress, overcrowding, and sudden environmental disturbances. Conventional brooding practices rely heavily on manual monitoring and adjustment of environmental conditions, making them labor-intensive and often ineffective in preventing mortality. This study proposes a fully automated microzone-based brooding system that continuously monitors temperature, relative humidity, ambient noise levels, and chick distribution using low-cost sensors. The poultry shed is divided into multiple microzones, enabling localized environmental control and real-time adaptation to changing conditions. Sensor data are processed through a closed-loop control framework to regulate heaters and ventilation systems, while airflow-based redistribution mechanisms are employed to minimize overcrowding. In addition, a behavior-aware response module is incorporated to detect sudden noise events and activate calming measures that reduce panic-induced piling. The proposed system integrates environmental and behavioral monitoring within a unified automation framework to enhance chick welfare and improve brooding efficiency. Owing to its low-cost design and compatibility with existing poultry infrastructure, the system is suitable for deployment in small-scale poultry farms in Wayanad and similar agro-climatic regions. The proposed approach is expected to reduce mortality associated with thermal stress, crowding, and environmental disturbances while decreasing labor requirements for farm management.