Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether ornot eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an eggremoval apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrieras an egg picker moves to pick up an egg. The length of time that the light path isblocked when the egg picker is moved is measured and used to determine whetheror not the egg has been removed from the carrier. Another apparatus and methodis provided for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker. A detection device detectsa number of eggs in the egg carrier. A control device monitors the egg picker andthe detection device. The control device calculates the number of eggs in theegg carrier for determining when the number of eggs varies a predetermined amountfrom an egg count number for the egg carrier.
