Tag Archives: Sheep

Animals

Twin Lambs and a Single

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Last year the first one lamb at Middleton Place was born April 7th so I was somewhat surprised when I stopped by on Monday, March 14th and was told “any day now.” I didn’t get back until Thursday, to find a single had been born on Tuesday and a set of twins arrived just that morning.

Twin Lambs, Born March 17
Twin Lambs, Born March 17

The twins were finishing up feeding when I got there and almost immediately collapsed into sleep.

Twin Lambs, Born March 17
Twin Lambs, Born March 17

The older one was more adventurous, spending some time under the shelter.

Single Lamb, Born March 15
Single Lamb, Born March 15

Then she checked out her new mates.

Single Lamb Checking Out The Twins
Single Lamb Checking Out The Twins

I look forward to photographing them as they grow, and hopefully in better light.

Single Lamb
Single Lamb

The twins having a look around.

Twin Lambs and Mama
Twin Lambs and Mama

Middleton Place BarnYard, Charleston, SC
March 17, 2022

 

Animals

Three Little Lambs, 3

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I’ve now taken hundreds of pictures of the three little lambs investigating their world; here’s a selection from April 21st.

Three Lambs
Three Lambs

The moms know it is almost feeding time; the lambs — well two of them — have their interest piqued, too.

Three Lambs
Three Lambs

The lambs are now getting a share of their moms’ grain.

Three Lambs, Moms Eating Grain
Three Lambs, Moms Eating Grain

The lambs aren’t yet as diligent about getting their grain.

Lamb, Peaking Over Two Moms
Lamb, Peaking Over Two Moms

Just cute!

Lamb
Lamb

 

Single lamb was born on April 7th, and the set of twins was born April 9th.

 

Animals

Sheep On The Lawn, Middleton Place

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The sheep have free run of the lawn in front of the House Museum at Middleton Place.

House Museum, South Flanker, With Sheep on the Lawn
House Museum, South Flanker, With Sheep on the Lawn

A brick fence keeps them out of the Azaleas and garden areas.

Sheep on the Lawn, Azaleas
Sheep on the Lawn, Azaleas

Most of the time the flock is pretty sedate, but occasionally one and then all will think they need to investigate something. Sheep, the original FOMO (fear of missing out) creatures.

Sheep on the Lawn, Azaleas
Sheep on the Lawn, Azaleas

 

Animals

Three Little Lambs, 1

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I’ve made numerous trips to see the sheep at Middleton Place over the last couple weeks, looking forward to the arrival of some lambs. April 5th was the official day the barnyard workers were giving for the four pregnant sheep in their care to deliver.

Finally, on April 9th, I found three lambs: one had been born on April 7th, and a set of twins had been born that morning.

Two Lambs with their Mothers
Two Lambs with their Mothers

The three lambs were pretty active and getting them all in one shot wasn’t happening. Notice the extra curly textured coat on the lamb on the right.

Two Newborn Lambs
Two Newborn Lambs

The families have been given a pen of their own, where they’ll stay for a few weeks. The rest of the flock spends nights in the pen on the left and days free-roaming the property; the Cashmere Goats are to the right.

Three Newborn Lambs
Three Newborn Lambs

The little ones mostly followed their own mother, legs a bit wobbly.

Newborn Lamb At Mother's Side
Newborn Lamb At Mother’s Side

They were also a bit curious about the humans watching them.

Newborn Lamb
Newborn Lamb
Animals

Sheep-pede, Part 2

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The Sheep bolted for the barnyard after the Sheep-pede and seeing the pressure washer. Their caretaker went back to the barn, too, for some grain. Clearly the group was won over and towards their pen they trooped.

Sheep and Farmer
Sheep and Farmer

Except these two that stayed behind cleaning up some grain that got spilt by the group leaders.

Two Sheep Cleaning Up Spilt Grain
Two Sheep Cleaning Up Spilt Grain

The shepherd continued to call and one of the two wanted to be with the group more than he wanted a snack.

Running Sheep
Running Sheep

The final hold out was determined to do a thorough job.

One Last Sheep
One Last Sheep – Cleaning Up

Then he scampered along to join his pals.

One Last Sheep - Wait For Me
One Last Sheep – Wait For Me
Animals

Sheep-pede

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A low key stampede, but these sheep were on a mission.

As part of their Heritage Breeds program Middleton Place maintains a herd of Gulf Coast Sheep that roam the grounds freely during the day.

Herd of Sheep Herd of Sheep

Every afternoon the animal staff go through a process of securing the animals for the night.

Herd of Sheep Herd of Sheep – Getting Closer, Me not ready with 100-400 mm lens!

The sheep know the routine and easily headed towards their enclosure when it was their turn.

Herd of Sheep Herd of Sheep

They got a surprise when they got closer to their nighttime quarters and decided they would mill around rather than go by a pressure-washer that a worker had been using to clean fence that evidently hadn’t been there when they left that morning.

Herd of Sheep, Milling Around Herd of Sheep, Milling Around
Animals

Working for Their Supper

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Middleton Place has a flock of sheep that roam the main grounds keeping them manicured. Weighted gates that close automatically behind the tourists allow foot traffic into the central green of the plantation and keep the sheep from escaping.

The sheep are looking scraggly as we head into winter; they will be shorn in the spring after lambs are born.

Grazing Sheep
Grazing Sheep

Belgian Horses are another heritage breed raised at Middleton Place. They provide carriage rides for visitors around the plantation grounds and are ignored by the sheep as they graze.

Grazing Sheep and a Belgian Horse
Grazing Sheep and a Belgian Horse

Middleton Place 
“A National Historic Landmark, home to the oldest landscaped gardens in America and an enduring, vibrant, and essential part of the Charleston and American experience.”