Lizzy733
Loving the herd life
Hello Everyone!
I've been a member over at backyard chickens for quite some time and have gotten pretty adept at handling my little urban flock, but am new to all this ngs ruminant.
My husband and I have now bought a 3.18 HA lifestyle block and are looking to settle late November.
We'd not planned on jumping into livestock right away, but the property comes with sheep! I've been doing a deep dive to find out as much as I can, as quick as I can to support our new flock.
There are 7 two toothers, 3 older ewes, a ram and a wether. There are also lambs as we are at the end of spring.
We've not been able to physically see the property aside from video from our friends in the area that scoped out the property in our stead, so I don't know how many exactly.
They look to be a mixture of Romney and Arapawa. (We're in New Zealand, Northland).
My husband has a background in horticulture and has worked in production greenhouses, cultivation, and integrated pest management... Etc. There has already been extensive hort work onsite with a fully planted orchard, greenhouses, veggie plots all irrigated which will be keeping us busy as well.
I've always had an interest in behavioral sciences and animal husbandry, though this is not my field of work. I've been raising chickens for 3 years and have been volunteering at our local bird rescue organization for the last year, so have a good understanding of avian medical care. (Tube feeding, subcutaneous injections, wound care etc...)
Time to skill up on ruminants too!
I had planned on branching out into quail and turkey, possibly adding kune kune and a few dairy goat a bit later on. For now though, the priority is sheep!
Happy for any suggestions, tips, and words of wisdom for moving from managing a quarter acre with a chicken run and veggie plot to rolling paddocks and a valley of native bush.
Pleasantly Optimistic,
Lizzy
Our little slice of heaven to be...
I've been a member over at backyard chickens for quite some time and have gotten pretty adept at handling my little urban flock, but am new to all this ngs ruminant.
My husband and I have now bought a 3.18 HA lifestyle block and are looking to settle late November.
We'd not planned on jumping into livestock right away, but the property comes with sheep! I've been doing a deep dive to find out as much as I can, as quick as I can to support our new flock.
There are 7 two toothers, 3 older ewes, a ram and a wether. There are also lambs as we are at the end of spring.
We've not been able to physically see the property aside from video from our friends in the area that scoped out the property in our stead, so I don't know how many exactly.
They look to be a mixture of Romney and Arapawa. (We're in New Zealand, Northland).
My husband has a background in horticulture and has worked in production greenhouses, cultivation, and integrated pest management... Etc. There has already been extensive hort work onsite with a fully planted orchard, greenhouses, veggie plots all irrigated which will be keeping us busy as well.
I've always had an interest in behavioral sciences and animal husbandry, though this is not my field of work. I've been raising chickens for 3 years and have been volunteering at our local bird rescue organization for the last year, so have a good understanding of avian medical care. (Tube feeding, subcutaneous injections, wound care etc...)
Time to skill up on ruminants too!
I had planned on branching out into quail and turkey, possibly adding kune kune and a few dairy goat a bit later on. For now though, the priority is sheep!
Happy for any suggestions, tips, and words of wisdom for moving from managing a quarter acre with a chicken run and veggie plot to rolling paddocks and a valley of native bush.
Pleasantly Optimistic,
Lizzy
Our little slice of heaven to be...