Low-Cost Egg Incubator-cum-Hatchery Technology for Small Farmers: Design, Evaluation and Impact on Rural Backyard Poultry Production
Tilling Tayo
*
Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Longding, (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Arunachal Pradesh Center, Basar, 792130, India.
Utpal Kr. Bhattacharyya
Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Longding, (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Arunachal Pradesh Center, Basar, 792130, India.
Lobsang Wangchu
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
Neeta Longjam
Krishi Vigyan Kendra-West Siang, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, 791102, India.
Sourabh Deori
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
Samir Das
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
AAP Milton
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
Sandeep Ghatak
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
Sunil Dolley
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH), Region, Meghalaya, 793103, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Artificial incubation is an essential requirement for improved backyard poultry breeds due to their lack of broody behaviour. However, commercially available incubators are costly and inaccessible to small farmers. This study developed and evaluated a low-cost egg incubator-cum-hatchery constructed from a discarded Thermocol fish box integrated with a digital thermostat, exhaust fan, and filament bulbs. The total fabrication cost was ₹1,740 excluding inverter and battery (₹15,240 with full backup system). The incubator has a capacity of 50–80 eggs depending on egg size. Artificial incubation was carried out following the principles of temperature, humidity, ventilation, and turning (THVT). Hatchability trials using eggs from four poultry breeds—Local, Sonali, Srinidhi and Kamrupa—yielded hatchability percentages of 72%, 78%, 70%, and 76%, respectively. Economic analysis showed that although standalone operation with a single incubator is less profitable, profitability significantly increases when one battery–inverter system supports five incubators simultaneously. At full-capacity cluster use, the system generated an annual net income of ₹1,14,022.56.
This innovation provides an affordable, farmer-operated hatchery technology capable of ensuring continuous chick supply in remote rural areas, thus strengthening backyard poultry production and rural livelihoods.
Keywords: Low-cost incubator, backyard poultry, hatchability, frugal innovation, rural technology, THVT principles, improved poultry breeds