iHatch - MSc Project - looking for ideas

[AidanC]

Hi all,
I have been keeping chickens for about 5 years, and hatching them in incubators for 2. Myself and my wife currently have some Cochins, Cream Legbars, USA Silkies, Marans and a lone Belgian Barbu d'Anvers. I often come here with questions and have usually been able to find the answer by just lurking and searching existing posts. We have used two incubators: a Brinsea Mini-Eco (which we like) and an Rcom 10 eco (which we like less).

I'm currently finishing a Masters degree in Computer Science, and for my final project, I want to do something 'chickeny'. I am building a small thermometer/hygrometer that can be used in any incubator and connect to the internet/phone/Alexa etc. The idea is something that any hobbyist could use without having to sell a kidney to buy the top of the range incubators.

I'd love to get some ideas from you all about what features you'd like to see something like this have. Planned features so far include:
1. Display current temperature/humidity
2. Display days till lockdown/hatch
3. Reminders to weigh eggs on days 10 and 18, and modify humidity based on weight loss
4. Notify user when an egg has hatched (based on spike in humidity)

Is there anything that you would like to see on an application like this? I'd appreciate any ideas or thoughts.
Thanks, Aidan

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Oh that sounds like a really helpful tool. Perhaps an option to have egg turning reminders for those who don't have auto-turner incubators.

 

[AidanC]

Oh that sounds like a really helpful tool. Perhaps an option to have egg turning reminders for those who don't have auto-turner incubators.

Thanks, that's a good idea.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Check this resource out, it's pretty fantastic. Considering it is opensource maybe you could implement your ideas into this application. Would be a great base for your own one! If not then check it out and see if you can be inspired by it

 

[AidanC]

View attachment 3138132
Check this resource out, it's pretty fantastic. Considering it is opensource maybe you could implement your ideas into this application. Would be a great base for your own one! If not then check it out and see if you can be inspired by it

Thanks, I'll definitely give it a look.
Unfortunately, as this is a project for my uni dissertation, the project I develop has to be self-standing and so I won't be able to connect or interact with this - but it's definitely something I'd be interested in looking into when the uni project is finished (at the end of the year).
Thanks again for the heads up.