K Gray
Published © MIT

Chicken Egg Incubator with Arduino

This is a tutorial for how to make a DIY chicken egg incubator from scratch (pun intended) with Arduino! Fully automated incubator!

IntermediateFull instructions provided5 hours2,319
Chicken Egg Incubator with Arduino

Things used in this project

Hardware components

DFRobot Gravity: Dual Bipolar Stepper Motor Shield for Arduino (DRV8825)
×1
DFRobot Hybrid Stepper Motor for 3D Printer (3.5kg)
×2
DFRobot DFRduino Mega2560
×1
DFRobot Gravity: Mini Touch Kit
×1
DFRobot Fermion: AHT20 Temperature and Humidity Sensor (Breakout)
×1
DFRobot PTC Heating Element - 5V 100˚C
×4
Axial Fan, 12 VDC
Axial Fan, 12 VDC
×2
Power MOSFET N-Channel
Power MOSFET N-Channel
I used the STP90NF03L
×6
Enclosure / Box
I used an old mini standup freezer! It works perfectly because it is already insulated.
×1

Story

Read more

Schematics

Schematic

PCB Gerber File

Code

eggincubator.ino

C/C++
/*************************************************************
File Name: eggincubator.ino
Processor/Platform: Arduino Mega (DFRduino Mega tested)
Development Environment: Arduino 2.0.3

Download latest code here:
https://github.com/Kgray44/Arduino-Egg-Incubator

Driveway Gates code meant to be used alongside the tutorial found here:
https://www.hackster.io/k-gray/chicken-egg-incubator-with-arduino-44f70f

Copyright 2023 K Gray

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and
associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, 
and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE 
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR 
COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, 
ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Liscense found here:
https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
 *************************************************************/

#include "DFRobot_RGBLCD1602.h"
#include "DFRobot_AHT20.h"
#include <AccelStepper.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>

#define heater1 22
#define heater2 23
#define heater3 24
#define heater4 25

#define m1en 2
#define m1step 3
#define m1dir 4
#define m2en 5
#define m2step 6
#define m2dir 7
#define buzzer 8
#define blower1 9
#define blower2 10

#define touch A0

#define turningtime 120000 //2 min;   -1 means always turning, else input a millis value

float timeoffset;// = 2.1;


const byte motor1Char[8] = {
  0b00110,
  0b00110,
  0b00100,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110
};

const byte motor2Char[8] = {
  0b01100,
  0b01100,
  0b00100,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110,
  0b01110
};

float temp=0;
float hum=0;

int normalDayCount = 18;
int hatchDayCount = 3;
unsigned long lastmillis=0;
unsigned long daymillis=86400000;
unsigned long lastdaymillis=0;
unsigned long lasticonmillis=0;
unsigned long endmillis=0;
unsigned long fanonmillis=40000;
unsigned long fanoffmillis=80000;
unsigned long lastfanmillis=0;
bool fanon = true;

int day=1;

bool icon = false;

bool mode = false;

int touchcount=0;

float lasthour=0;

DFRobot_RGBLCD1602 lcd(/*lcdCols*/16,/*lcdRows*/2);  //16 characters and 2 lines of show
DFRobot_AHT20 aht20;
AccelStepper stepper(1,m1step,m1dir); // Defaults to AccelStepper::FULL4WIRE (4 pins) on 2, 3, 4, 5

void setup() {
	Serial.begin(115200);
  
  setupPinmodes();

  startSensor();

  lcd.init();
  lcd.customSymbol(1,motor1Char);
  lcd.customSymbol(2,motor2Char);
  lcd.setRGB(0,255,0);
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Egg Incubator");
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);
  lcd.print("Version 1.0.0");

  delay(2000);

  lcd.clear();
  digitalWrite(blower1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(m1en,LOW);// Low Level Enable
  digitalWrite(m2en,LOW);// Low Level Enable

  stepper.setAcceleration(25);
  stepper.setMaxSpeed(160);

  //EEPROM.write(8, 26);
  //EEPROM.write(7,1);

  day = EEPROM.read(7);
  float r = EEPROM.read(8);
  timeoffset = r/10;
}

void loop() {
  if (!stepper.isRunning()){
    checkTH();
    if (!mode){
      lcd.setCursor(13,0);
      lcd.print("   ");
      displayTH();
    }
    else {
      lcd.setCursor(14,0);
      lcd.print("  ");
      displayInfo();  
    }
  }
  else {
    if (millis() - lasticonmillis > 300){
      //lcd.setCursor(13,0);
      //lcd.print("  ");
      lcd.setCursor(14,0);
      lcd.write(icon ? 1 : 2);
        //lcd.write(2);
      icon = !icon;
      lasticonmillis = millis();
    }
  }
  Serial.println("Touch: " + String(digitalRead(touch)));
  if (digitalRead(touch) == HIGH){
    while(digitalRead(touch) == HIGH){touchcount++;delay(1);}
    if (touchcount < 5000){
      mode = !mode;
      digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
      lcd.clear();
      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
      lcd.print("Mode: ");
      lcd.print(mode ? "Info" : "Temp&Hum");
      delay(500);
      digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
      delay(2000);
      lcd.clear();
      touchcount=0;
    }
    else if (touchcount >= 5000) {
      digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
      lcd.clear();
      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
      lcd.print("RST to Day 1!?");
      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
      lcd.print("Hold 10 Sec = Y");
      delay(500);
      digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
      touchcount=0;

      while(digitalRead(touch) == LOW);
      while(digitalRead(touch) == HIGH){touchcount++;delay(1);}
      if (touchcount >= 10000){
        day = 1;
        EEPROM.write(7, day);//reset day to 1
        EEPROM.write(8, 0);//reset hour to 0
        lcd.clear();
        lcd.setCursor(0,0);
        lcd.print("Please Reset!");
        lcd.setCursor(0,1);
        lcd.print("Unplug...");
        while(true);  
      }
    }
  }

  if (day <= normalDayCount){
    Serial.println("Normal");
    standardMode();
  }
  else if (day > normalDayCount && day <= normalDayCount+hatchDayCount){
    hatchMode();
  }
  else {
    endMode();
  }

  stepper.run();

  if ((millis()+((timeoffset*1000)*60*60)) - lastdaymillis > daymillis){
    day++;
    EEPROM.write(7, day);
    lastdaymillis = millis();
  }
}

void setupPinmodes(){
  pinMode(heater1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(heater2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(heater3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(heater4, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(m1en, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m1step, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m1dir, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m2en, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m2step, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m2dir, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(buzzer, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(blower1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(blower2, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(touch, INPUT);
}

void startSensor(){
  uint8_t status;
  while((status = aht20.begin()) != 0){
    Serial.print("AHT20 sensor initialization failed. error status : ");
    Serial.println(status);
    digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
    delay(500);
  }
}

void standardMode(){
  setStandardHeater();
  setStandardRotation();
  digitalWrite(blower1, HIGH);
}

void setStandardHeater(){// the temperature we want is 95.5˚F
  if (temp < 96.50){// if temperature is less than 0.75˚ too warm
    if (temp > 96){
      digitalWrite(blower2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater1, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater3, LOW);
      digitalWrite(heater4, LOW);
    }
    else if (temp <= 96 && temp >= 95.75){
      digitalWrite(heater1, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater3, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater4, LOW);
      if (fanon){
        if (millis() - lastfanmillis > fanonmillis){
          analogWrite(blower2, 80);
          fanon = false;
          lastfanmillis = millis();
        }
      }
      else {
        if (millis() - lastfanmillis > fanoffmillis){
          analogWrite(blower2, 255);
          fanon = true;
          lastfanmillis = millis();
        }
      }
    }
    else if (temp < 95.75 && temp >= 88){
      digitalWrite(heater1, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater3, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater4, HIGH);
      if (fanon){
        if (millis() - lastfanmillis > fanonmillis){
          analogWrite(blower2, 80);
          fanon = false;
          lastfanmillis = millis();
        }
      }
      else {
        if (millis() - lastfanmillis > fanoffmillis){
          analogWrite(blower2, 255);
          fanon = true;
          lastfanmillis = millis();
        }
      }
    }
    else {
      digitalWrite(blower2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater1, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater2, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater3, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(heater4, HIGH);
    }
  }
  else { // if temperature is ≥ 0.75˚ too warm, shut off the heater (keep 1 on to just keep the heater warmed up)
    digitalWrite(blower2, LOW);
    digitalWrite(heater1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(heater2, LOW);
    digitalWrite(heater3, LOW);
    digitalWrite(heater4, LOW);
  }
}

void setStandardRotation(){
  if (!stepper.isRunning()){
    if (turningtime == -1){
      stepper.move(800);

      if (hum < 25 || hum > 60){
        digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
        delay(500);
        digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
      }
    }
    else {
      if (millis() - lastmillis > turningtime){
        stepper.move(800);
        lastmillis = millis();

        if (hum < 25 || hum > 60){
          digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
          delay(500);
          digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

void hatchMode(){
  setStandardHeater();
  digitalWrite(blower1, HIGH);
}

void endMode(){
  endmillis = millis();

  digitalWrite(heater1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(heater2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(heater3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(heater4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(blower1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(blower2, LOW);
  
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Done!");
  lcd.print(" Check eggs");
  while(true){lcd.setCursor(0,1);lcd.print("               ");lcd.setCursor(0,1);lcd.print((millis()-endmillis)/100);delay(1000);}  
}

void displayTH(){
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Temp: ");
  lcd.print(temp);
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);
  lcd.print("Hum:");
  lcd.print(hum);
  lcd.print(" Day ");
  lcd.print(day);
  if (day < normalDayCount){
    if (hum < 25){
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else if (hum > 60){
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else {
      lcd.setRGB(0,255,0);
    }
  }
  else {
    if (hum < 55){
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else if (hum > 95){
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else {
      lcd.setRGB(0,255,0);
    }
  }
}

void displayInfo(){
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Day ");
  lcd.print(day);
  lcd.print(" Hum:");
  lcd.print(hum,1);
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);
  if (day < normalDayCount){
    if (hum < 25){
      lcd.print("Add Water!");
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else if (hum > 60){
      lcd.print("Less Water!");
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else {
      lcd.print("Doing Well!");
      lcd.setRGB(0,255,0);
    }
  }
  else {
    if (hum < 55){
      lcd.print("Add Water!");
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else if (hum > 95){
      lcd.print("Less Water!");
      lcd.setRGB(255,0,0);
    }
    else {
      lcd.print("Doing Well!");
      lcd.setRGB(0,255,0);
    }
  }
  lcd.setCursor(11,1);
  float currenthour = millis()+((timeoffset*1000)*60*60); //millis
  currenthour = currenthour/1000; //seconds
  currenthour = currenthour/60; // minutes
  currenthour = currenthour/60; // hours
  if (lasthour != currenthour){
    int d = currenthour*10;
    EEPROM.write(8,d);
  }
  lasthour = currenthour;
  lcd.print(currenthour, 1);
}

void checkTH(){
  if(aht20.startMeasurementReady(/* crcEn = */true)){
    temp = aht20.getTemperature_F();
    temp = temp - 4; //temperature error correction;  currently reads 4˚ too hot
    hum = aht20.getHumidity_RH();
  }
}

GitHub Repository

Credits

K Gray

K Gray

23 projects • 23 followers
I love making things out of electronic components, coding in python and C++, designing PCBs and lots more.

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