cold weather

[frankiebulldog]

HI, Iam new to this, I have five large chickens, my coup is about 5x8 feet, it could get minus20 where i live, do they need a heat lamp? thanks

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

just depends on how happy and healthy you want them to stay.
If your coup is well insulated, draft free and you can seal it up pretty tight keeping the birds inside when it dips down to the -20's you may be able to squeek by. that being said what about their water? without a heat sourse their water is going to freeze up and you'll be out there a couple of times a day to chip it out and provide more.
We have found that ours are happy outside in their run down to about -15 but if you provide them an area they can go to warm up you'll get more eggs (and they wont be frozen when you get them)
Just my 2 cents good luck