First came electronic computer programs that keep track of your calorie inlet . Next , designers dazzle us with software that analyzed our sleep pattern , encouraged our practice session routines and monitored our matrimonial prolificacy times . Is no rock left untouched ?
Well , no : Farming , one of the most traditional trade around , has blossomed into the digital historic period thanks to a multitude of reckoner apps that avail Fannie Farmer keep track of planting and harvesting sentence , irrigation , manure direction , animal auction price , and even livestock insemination calculators . Programmers seem particularly fond of fowl farming , with a growing number of apps being designed specifically with chickens in mind .
Most significantly , these are all downloadable onto a smartphone , making that pocket earpiece / computer one of the handy husbandry resource around . Here ’s a look at five of the most popular poultry apps .
1. Cluck-ulator
Designer : ChickenWaterer.comAvailability : Apple App Store , Google meet Store , Windows Phone StoreDevices : iPhone , iPad , iPod Touch , Android , Windows
If you ’re starting a backyard flock , the Cluck - ulator is the double-dyed pocket domestic fowl adviser . Its Breed Selector helps you take the breed(s ) of crybaby you wish to call forth ground on criterion such as temperament , eggshell color , climate allowance , rate of lay , sizing at due date and more .
An alphabetical photo gallery aids in envision the different breeds as you consider them . The Coop Planner assists you in estimating your future flock ’s housing requirement , including coop and run size of it , perch blank , and nest boxes , while the Food & Water Estimator gives you an theme of how much provender and everyday water your flock will require , based on touchstone you select , like number and case of chickens , growth state and extraneous temperature .
Finally — and perhaps most significantly for Farmer counting on next egg sales agreement — the Egg Estimator provides an one-year estimation of the telephone number of eggs a chicken will lay once you key the stock and age of skirt . Additional feature include access to ChickenWaterer.com ’s Facebook page , Twitter provender and blog , though WiFi or cellular armed service is required to access these .
The Cluck - ulator will definitely guide possible chicken steward dreaming of starting a flock in the right direction .
2. FlockPlenty—Chicken Egg Tracker
Designer : George LeeAvailability : Apple App StoreDevices : iPhone , iPad , iPod Touch
The domestic fowl steward ’s best electronic acquaintance , FlockPlenty avail keep rails of your hens ’ bollock yield and feed intake via easy - to - interpret daily , hebdomadal and monthly bar graphs .
A digital journal allows you to take preeminence on your notice and flock care , and a tv camera mathematical function allows you to photograph your girls , their nests and anything else that would assist in the direction of your lot .
All data is stored right on your twist ; no patronage to an unknown mystery swarm . take all this great entropy literally at your fingertips will aid you discover when molting may hap , when yield is increasing or decrease , and how fellow member of your flock change over clip .
For those look for bell and whistles , this app is n’t it , but for chicken keepers who are looking for an soft - to - use way to wangle their poultry sight , FlockPlenty is more than plenty .
3. iHatch-Chickens
Designer : iHatch - AppsAvailability : Apple App Store , Google Play StoreDevices : iPhone , iPad , iPod Touch , Android
If you plan on hatching your own dame next leaping , iHatch - Chickens is the download for you ! pack with tools to keep caterpillar tread of your grow chicks , iHatch - Chickens allow you to manage multiple hatches simultaneously — handy if you ’re using both an incubator and a ruminative hen or two — take notes on temperature , humidity and visual aspect , and receive day-after-day update on your chicks ’ progress towards hatch day .
In increase , its quotation section boast in - deepness illustrations limn chick development , details on the hatching mental process , and an advice center with information on bollock anatomy ; basic incubation ; how to amass , handle and store eggs ; and much more .
This unique smartphone app is a tremendous resource for elemental - school instructor and volaille - maintain parents who plan on teaching their children about the mysteries of animation via fowl upbringing .
4. Pickin’ Chicken
intriguer : Mother Earth News / Funny Farm IndustriesAvailability : Apple App StoreDevices : iPhone , iPad , iPod Touch
One of the first poultry apps to hit the marketplace , Pickin ’ Chicken is a handy stock - selection tool , ideal for novice poultry custodian and expertchicken - istasalike . More than 140 color photos illustrate a wide mountain chain of mutual , rare and inheritance domestic fowl breeds .
pare down your compliments list by searching through Pickin ’ Chicken ’s breed list by :
Each breed is also note with its Livestock Conservancy status , so you may select to raise heritage breeds that are critically jeopardize . Pickin ’ Chicken also name breeds on the Slow Food Ark of Taste list , crucial criteria for anyone planning on levy meat snort .
While this app is somewhat limited — it ’s more of a character reference than a digital flock deviser — it ’s very user - well-disposed and the perfect pick for someone looking to get originate .
5. Poultry Pal
Designer : Southern States Cooperative Inc. availableness : Apple App Store , Google Play StoreDevices : iPhone , iPad , iPod Touch , Android
Poultry Pal is exactly that : a style to keep caterpillar track of your chicken friends . Perfect for the domestic fowl fancier who have sex spending time amongst the flock , Poultry Pal lets you make individual files for your pile , allowing you to hive away photo , natal day , health notes and more for each bird .
you’re able to also become chum with other registered Poultry Pal users , uploading and sharing photos of your flock with each other . And , of line , the app helps you make and manage your domestic fowl shopping list , perfect for when it ’s time to bring down your local Southern States computer storage ( not sure where it is ? The app will tell you ! ) to pick up some stratum feed , sand , or wimp treats .
This is not the app for the minuscule - scale farmer planning on pull in a exist rearing poultry , but it ’s perfect for urban / suburban dwellers with backyard microflocks .
This article to begin with ran in the November / December effect ofChickensmagazine .
