[itstartedwithaseed]

We accumilated two three week old chicks last Saturday, quite abruply with neither me nor my partner having any experience with poultry and no equipment (we are not irrisponsible, we rescued them).

I have been reading this forum solidly for the last week and it has been a huge help, and I was hoping some of you might be able to answer a few questions for me?
 From Saturday-Tuesday they stayed in the house, and for the last two days I have put them out in the shed in the morning and bought them back in at night, as far as I can tell they are just the general hybrid variety. Should they be sleeping outside already?

I have bought a second-hand coop and run which is being delivered on Saturday, should I wash/paint/coat this in anything before putting my little babies in it?
 I'm worried about them picking up diseases from another flock.

If I clip there wings will they be able to jump the neighbours fence? It's about 120cm high, the fences are secure but not that high for sure, I'm worried if I let them out I wont be able to get them back in their pen again?

Thanks so much for your advice in advance!

Becky x

[ANHBUC]

Hi Becky and welcome to the site.  Are you sure of the chicks age?  They are meant to be kept under a heat lamp until they are 6 to 8 weeks old at this time of the year.  Gradually decreasing the temperature so as not to shock their system.  Have a read of this which has advice on rearing chicks.

www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingChicks.html