During the first weeks of a chick’s life, heat is more important than food. Many Sub Saharan farmers understand this constant (20 hours daily) need for heat for chicks, but most use charcoal heating. Charcoal cannot be easily controlled with its heat dissipating over time and its heat can only be visually monitored. Fail to wake up to add the coals, you will starve your chicks of warmth and they will freeze with some dying each night. This lack of heat also leads to stunted growth with some farmers using growth hormones.
The patented Smart Brooder is designed to empower chicken farmers with innovative features that address key challenges. The climate-responsive data collection aspect involves advanced sensors, providing real-time alerts through SMS or the cloud, enabling farmers to respond promptly to extreme conditions. The adaptive heating systems, driven by a custom algorithm, caters to various chick breeds and growth patterns, automating cleaner heaters including electric, solar, lpg and biogas heaters. Water management ensures efficient resource use, maintaining adequate water supply while minimising waste.
The Kuku Smart mobile app complements the hardware by allowing farmers to collect production data, which, when combined with sensor data, provides insightful recommendations for daily tasks. This includes guidance on feed, vaccination, space requirements, and growth rate, contributing to healthier and more productive flocks. Moreover, our solution goes beyond on-farm applications. It enhances market access by leveraging data for traceability, enabling farmers to negotiate better pricing agreements with larger buyers. This holistic approach aims to uplift chicken farmers by improving their resilience, productivity, and overall livelihoods.
