Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether or not eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an egg removal apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrier. An egg picker is moved from a first location overlying the carrier to a second location in contacting relationship with an egg in the carrier and back towards the first location, and is configured to engage the egg when in the second location and remove the egg from the carrier when moved from the second location towards the first location. The length of time that the light path is blocked when the egg picker is moved from the first location to the second location and back towards the first location is measured. A signal that indicates whether or not the egg has been removed from the carrier based on the length of time the light path is blocked is generated.
