All poultry farms need to bring the animals into the buildings at dusk, to protect them from predators, or to prevent the onset of diseases such as respiratory infections due to damp, cold weather conditions during the night. A tedious task for breeders, which can sometimes take over an hour every day. The aim of this robot is to relieve producers of this daily burden.

After a learning phase, the “robot dog” will be able to direct chickens to their sheds and close hatches in rearing buildings. Its operation is based on artificial intelligence, adjusting its actions according to luminosity and the time of sunset. Equipped with batteries that last for over three hours, the robot follows a predefined path around the hutches, encouraging 80% of the chickens to return without frightening them.

During initial trials carried out this summer at a farmer’s premises, the robot dog seemed promising: efficient, it moved smoothly around trees and sheds, and the chickens were not frightened.

The aim is to launch this revolutionary tool among Maïsadour members in 2025, after testing the robot dog with a number of breeders to enable them to develop their skills. Eventually, some 435 breeders could benefit from this robot on their farms.