6 Best Poultry Egg Weighing Scales Old Farmers Swear By
Ensure accurate egg grading with these 6 scales trusted by veteran farmers. Our review covers both durable vintage and precise modern options for your flock.
You’ve gathered the morning’s eggs, a satisfying collection of browns, blues, and whites in your basket. But then a customer asks for a dozen "large" eggs, and you realize you’ve been guessing this whole time. An egg scale isn’t just for commercial operations; it’s a fundamental tool for managing your flock, keeping customers happy, and even ensuring successful hatches.
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Why Egg Weight Matters on the Small Farmstead
Consistent egg weight is the first sign of a healthy, stable flock. A sudden drop in average egg size can be an early indicator of stress, nutritional deficiencies, or illness long before other symptoms appear. Tracking the weight of a pullet’s first eggs also tells you a lot about her development and when she’s hitting her productive stride.
For anyone selling eggs, even at a small farm stand, grading is a matter of trust. Customers paying for a dozen large eggs expect them to be large. Selling a mixed-weight carton as "farm fresh" is fine, but if you start sorting by size—Small, Medium, Large, Extra-Large, Jumbo—you need an accurate scale to be consistent and fair. It elevates your product from a hobby to a serious offering.
Weight is also critical for incubation. Setting eggs of a uniform size leads to a more uniform hatch time, which simplifies management in the brooder. Abnormally large or small eggs often have lower hatchability rates, so weighing them helps you select the best candidates for success, saving you time and disappointment.
Ohaus Triple Beam: The Gold Standard for Accuracy
The Ohaus Triple Beam is the definition of a "buy it for life" tool. This is the scale you see in science classrooms for a reason: it is exceptionally accurate and reliable. Because it operates on a balance system with counterweights, it never needs batteries or a power outlet, making it perfect for the barn or a processing shed with limited electricity.
Its operation is methodical. You place the egg on the platform and slide the weights along the three beams until it balances perfectly. This process is slower than a digital scale, no question. But its precision is unmatched, and it never needs to be re-calibrated as long as it’s handled with reasonable care. It measures in grams with decimal-point accuracy, giving you precise data for tracking flock health or incubation candidates.
The triple beam isn’t for someone in a hurry to sort ten dozen eggs for market. It’s for the farmer who values data and dependability above all else. It’s the right tool for establishing a baseline, checking the calibration of other scales, or meticulously tracking the output of specific hens. It’s a piece of equipment that represents a commitment to precision.
MyWeigh KD-8000: A Durable Digital Workhorse
Measure ingredients with precision using the My Weigh KD-8000 digital food scale. Its durable stainless steel platform and accurate readings make baking and cooking easier.
When you need a blend of digital speed and farm-tough durability, the MyWeigh KD-8000 is a top contender. Its large, stainless steel platform is easy to clean and can handle the mess that comes with farm life. Unlike a cheap kitchen scale, this unit is built to withstand constant use and the occasional bump.
The key feature here is its high capacity (up to 8000 grams or 17.6 lbs) and precision, which makes it versatile for more than just eggs. You can use it for weighing feed supplements, harvested produce, or portions for preserving. The display is large and easy to read, and it includes a removable shield to protect the buttons from egg goo or other debris.
This scale offers the best of both worlds: it’s fast enough for sorting dozens of eggs for sale but precise enough for tracking flock health. It runs on batteries or an AC adapter, giving you flexibility in where you use it. For the serious hobby farmer who sells at a market and needs a reliable, multi-purpose scale, the KD-8000 is a sound investment.
Taylor Precision Mechanical Scale for Simplicity
Sometimes, you just need a simple tool that works without fuss. The Taylor Precision mechanical dial scale is exactly that. It’s an analog scale with a straightforward dial that gives you an immediate weight reading. There are no buttons, no batteries to die, and no digital screens to break.
This scale is not about pinpoint accuracy down to the tenth of a gram. It’s about quickly sorting eggs into general categories. Is this a medium or a large? Is this one a jumbo? The dial is clear enough to make that distinction easily, which is all many small farmers need for their own use or for casual sales. Its simplicity is its greatest strength.
Think of the Taylor mechanical scale as the trusty hammer in your toolbox—it does one job reliably and without complication. It’s affordable, durable enough for a barn environment, and requires zero technical skill to operate. It’s the perfect choice for someone who wants to stop guessing at egg sizes without investing in a more complex or expensive system.
The K-E-G Egg Scale: A Purpose-Built Grader
If your primary goal is to sort eggs for sale quickly and efficiently, nothing beats a purpose-built egg grader. The K-E-G Egg Scale and similar gravity-based models are ingeniously simple. You place an egg in the cradle, and the counterbalance system automatically tips the arm to indicate the correct weight class: Pee-wee, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, or Jumbo.
There are no numbers to read and no calculations to make. The scale does the grading for you in a single, swift motion. This allows you to sort dozens of eggs in minutes, dramatically speeding up the process of packing cartons for customers. It’s a single-task tool, but it performs that one task exceptionally well.
These scales are pre-calibrated to official USDA weight standards, so you can be confident in your grading. They are purely mechanical, requiring no power source. The tradeoff is that they don’t give you a precise gram or ounce measurement; they only sort into predefined categories. For the farmer focused on sales and consistency, a dedicated egg grader is an invaluable time-saver.
Weigh Gram Scale: Best for Portability and Speed
For quick spot-checks and maximum portability, a digital pocket scale like those from Weigh Gram is an excellent tool. These small, affordable scales are perfect for carrying out to the coop to weigh a questionable egg on the spot. They are fast, giving you a precise digital reading in seconds.
The main advantage is convenience. They take up almost no space on a cluttered workbench and can be tucked into a drawer or a pocket. Most run on common AAA batteries and have a simple tare function, allowing you to zero out the weight of an egg carton or cup before weighing. This makes them surprisingly versatile for their small size.
The limitations are durability and platform size. The plastic construction won’t stand up to heavy abuse, and the small weighing surface can be awkward for very large duck or goose eggs. But for a farmer with a small flock or someone who just needs a quick, accurate reading without the bulk of a larger scale, a pocket scale provides incredible value and utility.
Ozeri Pronto Digital Scale: Affordable Precision
Many homesteaders get their start with a reliable digital kitchen scale, and the Ozeri Pronto is a prime example of why this is a great entry point. It’s affordable, widely available, and accurate enough for most egg-weighing tasks. It provides a clear digital readout in grams, ounces, or pounds, offering excellent precision for the price.
This type of scale is perfect for the new chicken keeper who is just starting to track their flock’s production. It helps you learn the difference between your hens’ eggs and establish a baseline for what’s normal. The tare button is a crucial feature, letting you place a bowl on the scale, zero it out, and get an accurate weight of the egg itself.
The downside is that a standard kitchen scale isn’t built for the rigors of a farm. The plastic body can be less durable, and it may not hold up to the dust and moisture of a barn environment. However, for use in the kitchen or a clean processing area, the Ozeri Pronto is a fantastic, low-cost way to bring data and consistency to your egg management.
Choosing Your Scale: Calibration and Key Features
No matter which scale you choose, its accuracy is only as good as its calibration. For digital scales, this is simple. Keep a US nickel in your pocket—it weighs exactly 5 grams. Place it on your scale periodically; if it reads 5g, you’re good to go. If not, use the calibration function (if available) or simply make a note of the variance. Mechanical scales like the triple beam rarely need adjustment, while dial scales often have a small knob to zero them out.
When you’re ready to buy, focus on the features that match your primary goal. Don’t get distracted by bells and whistles you won’t use.
- Power Source: Do you need the portability of batteries, or will it stay plugged in on a counter? Or do you want a mechanical scale that needs no power at all?
- Units of Measurement: Grams are the standard for precision and tracking small changes. Ounces-per-dozen is the standard for selling. A good digital scale will offer both.
- Platform Size & Durability: Will you be weighing chicken eggs, or do you need space for larger duck or turkey eggs? A stainless steel platform is always easier to clean and more durable than plastic.
- Speed vs. Precision: Are you sorting 10 dozen eggs for a farmers market (speed is key) or tracking the health of a prized breeding hen (precision is paramount)? Be honest about your needs.
Ultimately, the best scale is one that fits your workflow. A tool that is difficult to use will sit on a shelf, but a practical one will become an indispensable part of your farmstead management.
Choosing the right egg scale comes down to your specific goals, whether that’s ensuring a fair deal for your customers, breeding for specific traits, or simply keeping a closer eye on the health of your flock. The right tool provides valuable data, turning guesswork into informed management. And on a small farm, smart decisions are your most valuable asset.
