Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically loading eggs directly from stacks of alternately rotatably oriented flats includes a conveyor for supplying stacks of eggs to an egg loading station which includes a device for removing of the eggs from the uppermost flat and for removing the uppermost now empty flat. The device includes a device for rotating and lifting the stack after the flat is removed to orient the stack for the removing of the next layer of eggs. Such a configuration is made necessary since such stacks of eggs are normally arranged with each layer of eggs being rotated 90.degree. with respect to the next layer of eggs and since the array of eggs is normally not square it is necessary to reorient the stack each time a layer of eggs and the associated flat is removed therefrom. For this reason the present invention includes a stack rotation device in addition to a flat removal device, an egg removal device and a stack supply means.