Automated load sensor based chicken feeder

Most small-scale farmers rely on manual, imprecise feeding (KIPPRA, 2025). Consequences: 10–15% feed wastage (spillage, spoilage) (Top Chicken Cage, 2025). No real-time consumption data (Agriculture Kenya, 2025). Cannot calculate feed conversion ratio (Agriculture Kenya, 2025). Labour limits farm growth (Top Chicken Cage, 2025). No affordable, automated solution exists for Kenyan smallholders

The proposed solution is an ESP32-S3 microcontroller-based automated poultry feeding system that integrates an HX711 load cell amplifier with a single-point load cell for real-time gravimetric monitoring of feed quantities, a DS3231 real-time clock module for accurate time-keeping and schedule-triggered dispensing, and an MG946R continuous-rotation servo motor for precise mechanical feed dispensing through a conical stainless steel hopper. The system operates in two configurable feeding modes: scheduled, where feed is dispensed at up to eight pre-set times per day, and ad-libitum, where the bowl is automatically topped up whenever its measured weight falls below a defined threshold, with all operational parameters, calibration data, and feeding schedules stored in the ESP32's non-volatile flash memory to enable fully autonomous offline operation when internet connectivity is unavailable. A Supabase cloud backend serves as the remote data repository, logging every dispensing event with an accurate East Africa Time timestamp and exposing a REST API through which the system receives remote configuration updates and control commands, while a React Native mobile application provides the farmer with a real-time dashboard, schedule configuration interface, feeding history visualisation, and remote manual override capability, collectively delivering a low-cost, data-driven, and remotely monitored feeding solution designed to reduce feed wastage, eliminate inconsistent manual feeding, and provide the quantitative foundation for evidence-based poultry farm management.