Maybe early egg producer (5)
I believe the answer is:
layer
'egg producer' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'maybe early' is the wordplay.
'maybe' indicates anagramming the letters.
'early' with letters rearranged gives 'LAYER'.
(Other definitions for layer that I've seen before include "One supplying eggs" , "Coating" , "Seam" , "Early (anag.)" , "Stratum; chicken" .)