Abstract
This study designed a radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based Internet of Things (IoT) platform to create the core of a smart nest box. At the sensing level, we have deployed RFID-based sensors and egg detection sensors. A low-frequency RFID reader is installed in the bottom of the nest box and a foot ring RFID tag is worn on the leg of individual hens. The RFID-based sensors detect when a hen enters or exits the nest box. The egg-detection sensors are implemented with a resistance strain gauge pressure sensor, which weights the egg in the egg-collection tube. Thus, the smart nest box makes it possible to analyze the laying performance and behavior of individual hens. An evaluative experiment was performed using an enriched cage, a smart nest box, web camera, and monitoring console. The hens were allowed 14 days to become accustomed to the experimental environment before monitoring began. The proposed IoT platform makes it possible to analyze the egg yield of individual hens in real time, thereby enabling the replacement of hens with egg yield below a pre-defined level in order to meet the overall target egg yield rate. The results of this experiment demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed RFID-based smart nest box in monitoring the egg yield and laying behavior of individual hens.
Highlights
Chicken eggs are of high nutritional value, providing amino acids, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.Egg farmers are primarily concerned with the yield and quality of eggs
We developed an radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based Internet of Things (IoT) framework for smart agriculture applications, referred to as the smart nest box
An RFID reader is located at the bottom of the box
Summary
Chicken eggs are of high nutritional value, providing amino acids, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Egg farmers are primarily concerned with the yield and quality of eggs. The diet of laying hens can affect the nutritional quality of eggs [1], whereas the age of the hens and laying environment can affect egg yield [2]. Expected egg yield depends on the age and breed of the hens. Farmers generally monitor the egg yield of entire coops, such that a drop in egg yield prompts the replacement of all current hens with younger hens. This approach sacrifices hens that are still producing eggs at a satisfactory rate
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