Tiancheng Egg Industry

(Text/Source: Nantong Release) In modern chicken coops, laying hens leisurely peck at feed; in temperature-controlled ponds, juvenile giant river prawns swim energetically... Across Nantong's vast rural landscapes, digital technologies like smart sensors and intelligent controls are increasingly applied in livestock and aquaculture, equipping modern agriculture with a “smart brain.”

At Jiangsu Tiancheng Yazhou Eco-Smart Egg Chicken Industrial Park, newly constructed modern chicken coops are bright and tidy. Rows of breeding cages are neatly arranged. Some laying hens poke their heads out to peck at feed, while others close their eyes and lay eggs in peace. Eggs roll into collection trays from time to time. Staff access the digital platform for layer management, where comprehensive data—including chick and laying hen counts, daily egg production, and feed consumption—is readily available. With a few taps, they can control coop environments, automate feeding and watering, collect eggs, and clear manure.

Beyond the digital platform, staff rely on another valuable assistant—the barn patrol robot. Each morning, it traverses marked pathways to inspect the facility, precisely gathering environmental data across zones. It identifies and flags dead birds or non-laying weak chickens based on comb condition, feathering, and body conformation.

“Every poultry house is equipped with a patrol robot,” explained Li Weimin, Executive Deputy General Manager of Nantong Tiancheng Modern Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. “These robots carry temperature and humidity sensors along with audio-visual recording devices, enabling comprehensive data collection throughout the facility.” He noted that workers previously spent half a day conducting manual inspections to identify sick or dead birds. With robotic assistance, inspection efficiency has significantly improved while safety risks have decreased.

Traditional chicken farms suffered from poor environments and unpleasant odors. During seasonal temperature fluctuations, chickens were prone to illness and mortality. After introducing intelligent farming systems, laying hens now reside in temperature- and humidity-controlled “bunk beds” and consume precisely formulated nutritional meals. This not only ensures egg quality but also substantially reduces labor costs. “Our most modern chicken house houses up to 120,000 laying hens, managed by just one caretaker using a smartphone,” explains Li Weimin. Since launching the digital egg production platform, the group has seen a 1.1%–1.5% increase in egg production rates and a 2%–3% rise in survival rates. This has freed up 2–3 indirect staff positions, making farm management more efficient and transparent.