My hens stopped laying all at once!

[wynnsanchez]

Is it un-heard-of for 19 hens to stop laying all at once? At first we thought it was a snake, but I've been watching closely since then and I haven't even seen the hens get in their laying boxes to lay. Not only that, but one snake would not be able to eat all those eggs. I've also recently read that they'll stop laying when the days get shorter. We just recently purchased a light and timer and are planning on giving them some extra light in the evenings. If they did stop laying because of days getting shorter, how long will it take for them to start laying again once they have the artificial light?

By-the-way, I live in south texas so we haven't needed any heat lamps yet. It hasn't been cold enough.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I had a lady come and buy 6 dozen eggs from me because her 200 hens stopped laying !!
She did get one egg. I couldnt believe all those girls could stop all at once but i guess it
happens. I have 22 hens and i am getting 7 to 11 eggs a day...but some of the girls that
are laying are from my second batch, so they are different ages.

I have early spring pullets and fall pullets so i think thats what is helping me. I do have
an automatic light on and the coop is insulated.

 

[Country Guy John]

My girls have stoppped laying as well. I would assume that it is because of the shorter days.