First timers

My husband and I have just built on 3 acres. Divided into 1 acre, 1/2 acre and 3/4 acre paddocks, I've got 2 ewe orphan Romney cross lambs that in hand rearing.. And did have 1 dorper cross ram but he kicked the bucket last weekend. Today i picked up 2 arapawa weaned
Ewe lambs. Full learning curve for me as I've only raised calves before but sheep keep the grass nicer my husband keeps saying.. so here we are!

Welcome to the forum. But where are you? It's always helpful to know, if you should ask for any kind of assistance - climatically we're all so different!

Sorry. Did notice everyone had some kind of footer stating this. We're in Tangimoana.5 min to the beach 35 min to Palmerston North. On the stop banks of the Rangitikei river. And loving the bird life. Currently planting our bare block with natives to bring the birds closer.. yes just grow so slow in this windy salty area.
Jenn

What a cute little wee flock you have there! I love the colours of the Arapawas - there is an article on them in the current issue of the Rare Breeds Newz magazine which I fund interesting.

We're planting lots of natives for the birds too, and saw 2 kereru at the top of our block for the first time recently, which was quite exciting. Most of our trees are much too small for a kereru to sit in at the moment (I think they'd bend them right to the ground at the moment!!) but ncie to know they are around for when our natives start seeding Hope the birds come to you too!

Thanks Wren. So far we've had grey herons, blue swallows, fantails, hawks and the usual range of ducks and plummers. Looking forward to watching this place establish. I'll check out that article thank you for the heads up.

Welcome Jenjeff. A few good tough starter plants for your area: Flax, cabbage tree, broadleaf [aka Griselinia], and some of the Olearias...twiggy olearia is the toughest; paniculata the showiest.
And a couple of possible contacts: katrina.gray@rangitikei.govt.nz; Jan Harris, Bulls River Users Group at bulls.community@xtra.co.nz.

Thanks heaps.. just bought a few broadleaf to shelter the potential vege garden area.. clean slate is great but slow.. I've no patience at the best of times lol

Tree Lucerne is my weapon of choice! Be careful that what you plant near the vege patch does not rob the soil.

Will check that out thanks Tony.

Ask your neighbours how many keruru they see in the area. Kereru love tagasaste flowers, which flowers at about the same time as plums, apricots and peaches, which kereru also love.