Sheep Week is in full swing here in the Revolutionary City. Our newest lambs may only be a few weeks old, but they’re certainly active! Take a look.
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Meet Elaine: the “Other” Mama to All of Our Lambs!
While each of our lambs has its own sheep mama, they all share one main human caretaker. Her name? Elaine Shirley. Elaine is the supervisor of Colonial Williamsburg’s Rare Breeds Program and part of her job is managing our flock of roughly 50 sheep, including this year’s 20 pregnant and nursing ewes. …
Kick Off Sheep Week and Help Us Name Our Triplets to Win an Amazing Prize Package!
Sheep Week has officially arrived and we couldn’t be more excited! From April 13 - 17, we’ll share trivia, behind-the-scenes interviews, videos, and of course plenty of pictures of our Leicester Longwool lambs. The three stars that have quickly taken center stage are our adorable triplets. Have you met them yet? Because they need names and we need your help!…
National Pet Day has Gone to the Dogs-George Washington’s Dogs, That is!
Photo Courtesy: Mount Vernon
Happy National Pet Day! With three dogs and a cat, I thought my house was a zoo. That is, until I started reading up on our first president. I knew George Washington was an avid animal lover but I had no idea just how many dogs he doted on over the years. There are some reports he had 50 or more during his lifetime.
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Our “Rare” Colonial Chicks Reporting For Easter Duty!
Why serve traditional deviled eggs at your Easter brunch when you can step up your game and impress your friends and family with these adorable colonial chicks and their 18th-century accessories?
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R.I.P. Shilling, Our Sweet Colonial Kitty
Shilling spent more than a decade as the unofficial mayoress of the colonial capital where she roamed Duke of Gloucester Street and greeted thousands of guests over the years. The sweet calico spent her final days enjoying retirement, taking cat naps, and keeping a watchful eye on all the action through the bay window of the Peter Hay House. …
Happy Birthday AND Happy Anniversary to Our Leicester Lambs!
There may still be some snow on the ground, but the first lambs of the season are here! As we welcome the most recent additions (twin sisters) to the flock, we’re also reflecting on the breed as a whole since this year marks a major milestone for Colonial Williamsburg’s Rare Breeds Program….
The First Look at Our Newest Set of Twins!
Pat & Mike are the newest additions to our Rare Breeds Program and they earned their title in more ways than one. Only one in every 200 cattle births results in twins! We learned how to tell them apart, what work they’re busy completing in the Historic Area, and why they can’t be called oxen just yet….
How Do Our Animals Stay Warm in the Winter?
Earlier this week, we showed you how our interpreters layer up and bundle up before making their trek down Duke of Gloucester Street in the winter. But what about the horses, sheep, cattle, and chickens? For the most part, their bodies naturally adapt to the colder temperatures, but we learned they also get a little TLC from our coach and livestock crew!
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What Happens to our CW Horses After They Retire?
Many of our actors have dedicated decades to interpreting for Colonial Williamsburg. Our horses are no different. And after countless hours of pulling carriages and literally “carrying the show” in our reenactments, some of them are finally enjoying their hard-earned, much-deserved… retirement….