6 Portable Weigh Scale Setups For Goats On a Homestead Budget

Knowing your goat’s weight isn’t just a number for the record books; it’s a critical piece of management data. Accurate weights are essential for calculating feed rations, tracking growth rates, and, most importantly, administering correct medication dosages. Under-dosing dewormer can lead to parasite resistance, while over-dosing can be toxic—getting it right is non-negotiable.

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Hanging vs. Platform: Happybuy vs. My Weigh Scales

The first choice you’ll face is hanging versus platform. A hanging scale setup is incredibly portable and budget-friendly, often costing less than fifty dollars for a scale and a sling. A platform scale provides a stable, walk-on experience that is far less stressful for the animal but comes with a higher price tag and a larger footprint.

Think about your goats and your setup. A hanging scale, like the popular and inexpensive Happybuy crane scales, is great if you have a strong beam to hang it from, a helper, and relatively calm goats. But if you’re working alone or have a skittish doe that thrashes, trying to get a stable reading while she’s suspended mid-air is an exercise in frustration.

Platform scales, like the My Weigh HD series, solve the stability problem. The goat walks on, stands still (ideally), and you get a clear reading. The tradeoff is cost and portability. You’re not just throwing a platform scale in a bucket; you need a dedicated, level spot for it, and you’ll likely need to build a small chute or crate around it to keep the goat contained.

The Weaver Sling with a Happybuy Hanging Scale

This is the classic entry-level setup, and for good reason: it’s cheap and it works. You pair a durable goat sling, like one from Weaver Leather, with a digital hanging scale. The entire kit can be assembled for well under $100 and stored in a small box.

The process is straightforward but not always easy. You secure the goat in the sling, clip it to the scale’s hook, and hoist. This is where the challenge comes in. You need a secure anchor point overhead—a sturdy barn rafter, a strong tree limb, or a purpose-built tripod.

This is almost always a two-person job for adult goats. One person manages the goat while the other lifts and reads the scale. The animal’s movement can cause the reading to fluctuate wildly, so you have to wait for a moment of calm. For smaller breeds like Nigerian Dwarfs or for young stock, it’s a perfectly viable system. For a full-sized buck? You’ll want a different solution.

My Weigh HD-300 Platform with a DIY Pallet Crate

If you’re tired of wrestling goats into a sling, the DIY platform crate is your best friend. The concept is to build a simple, secure containment box on top of a reliable platform scale. The My Weigh HD-300 is a workhorse for this, offering a 300-pound capacity and a detachable display that’s easy to read.

The build itself is a perfect homestead project. You can construct a simple three-sided box with a front gate using scrap lumber or, even better, a couple of free pallets. The key is to build the crate first, place it on the scale, and then use the ‘TARE’ or ‘ZERO’ button. This zeroes out the weight of the crate, so the scale only shows you the weight of the goat.

This setup transforms weighing from a rodeo into a routine chore. The goat walks into the crate, you close the gate, and you get a stable, accurate weight in seconds. It’s a game-changer for single-person operations and for anyone who values low-stress animal handling. The initial time investment in the build pays dividends every time you need to weigh your herd.

SR Scales SRV945: A Dedicated Vet Scale Option

Sometimes, you just want the right tool for the job without the DIY hassle. A dedicated veterinary scale like the SR Scales SRV945 is a step up in both price and performance. It’s designed specifically for animals, and that purpose-built design makes a real difference.

These scales are low-profile, making it easy for goats to step on and off without being spooked. The platform usually has a non-slip rubber mat for secure footing. But the most valuable feature is the "weigh-averaging" or "hold" function. It rapidly takes multiple readings as the animal shifts its weight and then displays a stable, averaged number. This single feature eliminates the biggest frustration of weighing a fidgety animal.

Is it worth the extra cost? If you have a larger herd, deal with flighty animals, or simply value your time and sanity, the answer is often yes. It’s a "buy once, cry once" investment that streamlines a critical part of your herd management, turning a dreaded task into a quick and efficient process.

Etekcity Digital Scale: The ‘Hold-and-Deduct’ Trick

Let’s talk about the ultra-frugal, "good enough" solution. Using a standard digital bathroom scale, like a reliable one from Etekcity, you can get surprisingly accurate weights on smaller animals with a simple trick. It’s a method that requires no special equipment beyond what you might already have in your house.

The process is simple: step on the scale and weigh yourself. Then, step off, pick up the goat, and step back on the scale, holding the animal securely. The new number is your combined weight. A quick subtraction is all it takes to find the goat’s weight.

Of course, this has obvious limitations. It only works for goats you can physically and safely lift. It’s perfect for kids, yearlings, and smaller breeds like Pygmies or Nigerian Dwarfs. Trying this with a 150-pound Kiko wether is a recipe for a back injury. For weighing babies to track their critical first few weeks of growth, however, this method is fast, free, and incredibly effective.

Accuteck ShipPro Scale with a Modified Dog Crate

This setup is a fantastic middle ground between a full DIY pallet crate and a simple bathroom scale. It uses a digital shipping scale, like the Accuteck ShipPro, combined with a standard wire dog crate. Shipping scales are built to be durable, and crucially, they have a separate digital reader connected by a cord, which is a huge ergonomic win.

The execution is easy. Place the dog crate on the scale platform and hit the ‘TARE’ button to zero it out. Then, simply lead or coax your goat into the crate and close the door. Because the display is on a cord, you can place it on a nearby shelf or stool for easy reading at eye level, preventing you from spooking the goat by crouching down.

This approach offers the containment of a crate system without requiring any construction. The main constraint is the size of your crate and the weight limit of the scale (most shipping scales top out around 150-400 lbs). It’s an ideal solution for medium-sized breeds and for homesteaders who want a plug-and-play platform system without the high cost of a dedicated vet scale.

Weighing Kids with a Fosmon Luggage Scale Sling

Newborn goat kids are fragile, and tracking their daily weight gain is the best way to monitor their health. A massive platform scale is overkill for a five-pound baby. The perfect tool for this job is a simple, inexpensive digital luggage scale, like those made by Fosmon.

Paired with a small sling—or even a sturdy, reusable shopping bag in a pinch—a luggage scale provides the precision you need for small animals. You can gently place the kid in the bag, hook it to the scale, and get a reading in ounces or pounds within seconds. The small size makes it easy to bring right into the kidding stall for minimal stress on the dam and kid.

Keeping a dedicated "kid kit" with a luggage scale, a sling, and a notebook is a smart practice. A kid that isn’t gaining weight is a major red flag that requires immediate intervention. This tiny, ten-dollar piece of equipment can be one of the most important tools you own during kidding season.

Calibrating Your Scale with INEVIFIT Test Weights

An inaccurate scale is worse than no scale at all. If your scale is off by just 10%, that could be the difference between an effective dewormer dose and a dangerous one. Scales drift over time due to temperature changes, rough handling, and battery fluctuations, so regular calibration is not optional.

You don’t need a professional service; you just need a known weight. Buying a set of certified calibration weights, like the affordable and accurate ones from INEVIFIT, is a smart investment. You can buy them in various sizes, but a simple 10 lb or 20 lb weight is sufficient for most homestead needs.

The process is simple: once a month, or before any critical weighing session for medication, place the test weight on your scale. If the 20 lb weight reads 20.0 lbs, you’re good to go. If it reads 18.2 lbs, you know you have a problem that needs to be addressed by recalibrating the scale according to the manufacturer’s instructions or, at a minimum, accounting for the discrepancy. This simple check provides peace of mind and ensures the safety of your herd.

Ultimately, the best scale setup is the one you will actually use consistently. Whether it’s a DIY pallet crate or a simple sling, integrating regular weigh-ins into your management routine is a foundational step toward a healthier, more productive herd. Choose the system that best fits your budget, your animals, and your workflow, and you’ll be making more informed decisions in no time.