How to Set Up RFID Chicken Tracking, Step by Step
Setting up RFID tracking takes three passes: band every bird, assign each tag ID to the matching bird profile once, then scan whenever you want that bird's record. The assignment pass is the only fiddly part, and it goes fastest with two people, one holding the bird and one scanning.
1. Band the flock
Do it in the evening while birds are calm on the roost. Fit each band so it rotates freely on the leg with room for growth, and work through the flock in a fixed order so nobody gets missed.
2. Assign each tag to a bird
Open the bird's profile in CoopAI, put the cursor in the tag field, and scan. The ID drops into the field and saves against that bird. From then on the tag is that hen's permanent identity, even if her name or photo changes.
- Assign in the same session you band, so the band on the leg matches the record
- If a band comes off, retire the old ID rather than reusing it
- Keep a photo on the profile as a human-readable backup
3. Scan during routine chores
Once assigned, scanning during a health check, weigh-in, or egg log pulls up that exact bird instead of making you guess. The value compounds: after a few months you have a per-bird history that actually reflects one animal rather than a best guess.
Common questions
How long does it take to tag a flock?
Budget about a minute per bird for banding and assignment, so under half an hour for a flock of twenty.
What if I scan a tag that is not assigned?
CoopAI treats it as an unknown tag and offers to attach it to a bird, so you can assign on the spot.