40 degrees is nothing. We have temps in the teen right now and sometimes single figures and below zero frequently in the winter in Michigan, and my chickens do fine without a heat lamp.
Ok, so I got some new chickens about 2 weeks ago, but they are not laying. I know this because 1) I've never seen them in a nesting box and their vents aren't like my other chickens that are laying fine and 2) Their combs and waddles are pink to light red and not dark red like they should be...
I have 22 chickens right now. I plan on getting 10 more chicks in the spring. Breedwise, I'll probably get either wyandottes, a hybrid breed, or barred rocks.