An egg harvester (100) has a shuttle (101) where a top run (32) of a conveyor (30) defines horizontal slots (40, 90) to receive eggs from a mat (10) on which eggs are laid. Damaged eggs and litter are separated on a transfer conveyor (60), and the sound eggs are transferred to an egg belt by a transverse conveyor (68). Fresh litter can be laid on the mat (10) as the shuttle (101) advances under the birds (50) in the nests (51).