6 Best Pegboard Baskets For Collecting Eggs From Chickens That Stop Breakage
Safely collect and store fresh eggs with the right pegboard basket. Discover our top 6 picks designed to prevent breakage and organize your coop.
Collecting eggs should be one of the simple joys of keeping chickens, not a source of frustration. Yet, a clumsy basket or a fumbled trip back to the house can turn a perfect dozen into a cracked, goopy mess. The solution is creating a simple, organized system right where you need it, and a pegboard station by the coop door is the most efficient setup I’ve found.
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Setting Up Your Pegboard Egg Collection Station
A dedicated spot for your egg baskets changes everything. It’s not just about organization; it’s about creating a smooth workflow that prevents mistakes. You place a small section of pegboard right inside the coop or just outside the door, in a spot that’s sheltered from rain and direct sun. This becomes your command center for the daily collection.
The process becomes automatic. On your way into the coop, you grab a clean, empty basket from its hook. On your way out, you hang the full basket, freeing your hands to latch the door securely. No more balancing eggs on a railing or setting a precious haul on the dusty ground where it can be kicked over. For a barn or coop environment, I strongly recommend a metal pegboard; it won’t warp from humidity or break down over time like traditional hardboard will.
Wall Control Metal Basket: Ultimate Durability
When you’re working in a barn, things get dropped, bumped, and exposed to extreme temperatures. Plastic can get brittle in the cold and crack, but a steel basket is practically indestructible. The Wall Control baskets are built for a workshop environment, which makes them perfectly over-engineered for the coop.
These baskets typically feature a solid metal bottom and slotted sides, a design that works surprisingly well for eggs. The solid floor provides a stable base, preventing pressure points that can cause cracks, while the slots allow for some airflow. Their only real downside is the complete lack of cushioning. You absolutely must line them, but for a buy-it-once tool that will outlast your coop, metal is the way to go.
Triton LocBin: Easiest Basket to Sanitize
Cleanliness is non-negotiable, especially if you sell or share your eggs. This is where molded plastic bins like the Triton LocBin truly shine. Their smooth, non-porous surfaces have no tiny crevices for dirt and bacteria to hide, making them incredibly easy to wash and disinfect. A quick scrub is all it takes to get them completely clean.
The other key feature is the locking mechanism. Standard pegboard hooks can be easily knocked loose when you’re in a hurry or brushing past the wall. The LocBin system uses a secure clip that prevents the basket from falling off and spilling your eggs. This small detail provides huge peace of mind. For anyone prioritizing biosecurity and a spill-proof system, this is the top choice.
Homestead Harvest Padded Basket for Crack-Free Eggs
Some baskets are designed with one job in mind: getting eggs from the nest box to the kitchen without a single crack. These specialized baskets, often made of wire, come with a thick, removable cloth or felt liner. The liner provides 360-degree cushioning, absorbing the shock of eggs bumping against each other as you walk.
This is an all-in-one solution that eliminates the need to find your own padding. It’s ready to go right off the hook. The tradeoff, of course, is maintenance. A simple plastic bin can be wiped down, but a cloth liner will need to be laundered regularly to stay clean, especially if an egg does manage to break. It’s a bit more work, but for maximum protection, the built-in padding is unbeatable.
Azar Small Tray: Perfect for Bantam Eggs
Not all eggs are created equal. If you keep bantams or have pullets just starting to lay, their small, delicate eggs can get lost or broken rolling around in a standard-sized basket. Using a large basket for a small job is inefficient and risky.
This is where a shallow tray-style bin is the perfect tool. Something like Azar’s small organizer trays keeps tiny eggs contained in a single, stable layer. You can see your whole collection at a glance, and they aren’t piling up on each other. Matching the size of your basket to the size of your eggs and flock is a small adjustment that makes a big difference in preventing needless cracks.
Uline Deep Wire Basket for Large Flocks
When you’re collecting two or three dozen eggs a day, a small bin just won’t cut it. You need capacity. A deep, open-wire basket is the classic choice for large flocks because it’s lightweight, durable, and allows for excellent airflow to help cool the eggs quickly.
However, a bare wire basket is an egg’s worst enemy. The thin wires create concentrated pressure points that will crack shells with the slightest bump. This basket is only a viable option if you commit to lining it properly with thick straw, wood shavings, or a folded towel. For efficiency at scale, it’s a great tool, but it requires that extra, crucial step to be effective.
Horizons Tec Bins: Best Value Multi-Pack
Sometimes, the best solution is having more than one of a good-enough tool. Multi-packs of simple plastic pegboard bins offer incredible value, allowing you to create a system of rotation. You can have one bin in the coop for collecting, one in the house with clean eggs, and one in the sink being washed.
These bins are often basic—they might not have locking clips or be made from the most durable plastic. But for a few dollars apiece, they allow you to build a robust and flexible system. For a beginner building their first station or anyone on a tight budget, starting with a multi-pack is the most practical and affordable path.
Lining Baskets to Cushion Your Fresh Eggs
No matter which basket you choose, the single most important factor in preventing breakage is cushioning. Never place warm, freshly laid eggs directly onto a hard plastic, metal, or wire surface. That simple impact is often enough to create a hairline fracture that grows as the egg cools.
You have several great options for lining. A small, folded towel is soft and endlessly reusable. A thick layer of clean straw or pine shavings creates a wonderful, soft nest. Some people even cut custom liners from felt or rubbery shelf liner. The specific material doesn’t matter as much as the principle: always give your eggs a soft place to land. This one habit will save more eggs than any fancy basket ever will.
Ultimately, the perfect egg collection basket doesn’t exist. The best choice depends on your flock size, your priorities, and your budget. By setting up a dedicated pegboard station and choosing a basket that solves your specific challenges, you can make cracked eggs a thing of the past.
