Technology Spotlight: automated egg collection systems

By Dave Oberting, Questr Automation, 202.568.0852 (m), [email protected]

For most poultry operations, collecting, sorting, and transporting eggs is one of the most time-intensive daily chores. Automated egg collection systems change that equation completely. These systems use conveyor belts, elevators, and soft-handling mechanisms to move eggs gently from the laying area to central collection points — cutting labor time dramatically while improving efficiency and egg quality.

What Automated Egg Collection Systems Are
In a modern poultry house, an automated egg collection system integrates directly into layer housing. As hens lay, the eggs roll onto a conveyor belt that continuously carries them to an elevator or cross-belt system. From there, the eggs move toward grading or packing areas. This process eliminates the need for workers to walk aisle by aisle collecting eggs by hand, which is still common in smaller farms.

Here are some manufacturers:

• Big Dutchman (Michigan-based) produces advanced belt and elevator systems used worldwide. Their “EggCellent” and “Lift System” models are designed for gentle transfer and minimal breakage, even in high-volume operations.
• Vencomatic Group (Netherlands-based, with U.S. distribution) offers the “Grando Matic” and “Collect E 8” series — systems known for precision handling and ease of cleaning.
• Prinzen (a Dutch subsidiary of Vencomatic) provides small-to-mid-scale egg handling and packing systems often used in farm automation pilots like ours in Hardy County.

Costs and Accessibility
A typical small-farm egg conveyor setup from one of these manufacturers may start around $10,000–$15,000, with mid-range multi-tier systems running $25,000–$40,000 depending on scale, capacity, and automation level. While that’s a significant investment, these systems are eligible for USDA programs such as REAP or EQIP, which can offset a portion of installation costs for energy efficiency and labor reduction.

Time and Labor Savings
Manual egg collection can take 15–20 minutes per 100 hens daily — or about 750 hours a year for a 10,000-bird operation. Automated systems reduce that to roughly 3 minutes per 100 hens, saving over 600 hours annually. Those reclaimed hours can be redirected to flock health, maintenance, and recordkeeping — higher-value activities that strengthen farm profitability and sustainability.

Automation also improves egg quality and worker safety. Fewer handling steps mean fewer cracks and lower contamination risk. Belt-based collection reduces breakage to under 0.1% in some systems. It’s cleaner, faster, and far less physically demanding for farmers.

Why It Matters
​For West Virginia’s family farms, automation isn’t about replacing labor — it’s about protecting it. Automated egg collection systems represent smart, practical automation: technology that saves hundreds of hours per year while strengthening small-farm operations for the long haul. That’s exactly the kind of innovation Questr Automation LLC is helping bring to Hardy County through the Farm Automation Pilot (ROOST) — turning today’s chores into tomorrow’s competitive advantage.