1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us how you got into pigeon racing?
I've been involved in pigeon racing since I was 14, which is 46 years ago. I started with a school friend and my father was my mentor as he had already been actively involved in pigeon racing.
2. What is your specialisation (Sprint / Middle / Long Distance) and what are your most important results in recent years? Do you race with young/old pigeons and cocks/hens?
I race at all distances but am more known for my long-distance results. I have been fortunate to win national races at all distances, and my main results include: 1st International Dax 17,400 pigeons, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd International Hens Agen, 1st and 2nd International Yearlings 11,000 pigeons, 4th, 5th, 7th International Pau 12,000 pigeons, 6th International Barcelona 16,000 pigeons, and the only pigeon that clocked on the day of the race. I race with all pigeons, young and old, cocks and hens on widowhood.
3. Today we want to learn about your breeding method. When do you start breeding and why? How do you prepare your pigeons in terms of nutrition in the last 6 weeks before breeding?
I start breeding racing pigeons at the beginning of January because I believe winter breeding delays moulting. We pair the stock pigeons at the end of January because I think later youngsters are better. Six weeks before pairing, the racing pigeons are vaccinated against PMV and salmonella and are fed Gerry Plus.
If I have a big pigeon, I always look at pairing it with a smaller hen, I never look at the eyes.
4. How do you prepare your pigeons in the last 6 weeks before pairing in terms of medication and other things like vitamins and supplements? Do you also provide extra hours of daylight before pairing?
I treat the stock and racing pigeons for cancer when they have been sitting for about 10 days, then I give them vitamins.
5. Do you breed with all your pigeons? Racing and breeding loft? And if so, are you not afraid of moulting problems for the racing pigeons?
I breed with all my pigeons. I think winter breeding is best to slow moulting and to prevent hens from re-nesting after their first youngsters.
6. How do you pair your pigeons? Are there special traits like eyes, body and bloodlines you look at (inbreeding yes / no)?
I pair my pigeons based on racing results and body type. If I have a big pigeon, I always look at pairing it with a smaller hen, I never look at the eyes. I never breed for the racing team, but I sometimes do for the stock loft if I want to keep a particular line.
7. Once they are breeding, which feeding system do you use while they are sitting on eggs and once they have youngsters in the nest? And how many times a day?
When they are breeding, I feed them the Versele-Laga breeding mixture Plus Start.
8. Same question but regarding supplements. What do you give them on the grains or in the drinking water? Also, what about grit, vitamins, and minerals? And do you use egg food?
We provide plenty of grit and minerals, and daily vitamins in the water
9. Once the youngsters are bred, which feed do you give after weaning and for how long? At what age do you wean them? And how do you treat them after weaning and how do you vaccinate them?
Once the youngsters are weaned, we continue to feed them the Versele-Laga breeding mixture. At 6 weeks old, we change the corn by Versele-Laga Super Star Plus. We vaccinate the youngsters at three weeks for PMV, Herpes, and Adeno, and at 6 weeks for PMV and Rota. We wean the youngsters when they are about 25 days old.
10. When you have bred with the racing pigeons, what do you do before the season starts again? Do you put them on nest for the second time or not?
We breed with racing pigeons, but we never leave them on a second nest. If you let them sit on a second nest, this will start the moult. We don’t want this, because we would like them to have a full wing when the long-distance race comes..
11. Which tips and tricks would you recommend to beginner pigeon fanciers to be successful in pigeon racing?
The worst thing a fancier can do is limit or underfeed pigeons. Food is their fuel/energy and in my opinion, a hungry pigeon will not have the energy to win or fly home.Thanks a lot, and good luck.
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