Again q and a
In this article I will again answer questions of fanciers that may be interesting for others as well. That means; If I have an answer of course.
Which medicine are the best to give the pigeons a boost before an important race?.
Such medicine just do not exist.
You cannot create a better form by means of medicine. Every scientist will laugh with the idea alone. Still it is true that pigeons sometimes get into better shape after a treatment with antibiotics. In such cases the medicine did not bring "form" but they liberated the pigeons from harmful bacteria or viruses.
This is such a relief for the birds that they shape up.
Winning races through medicine is just wishful thinking. We want to have things under control and influence the condition ourselves.
After this (possible!) temporarily boost in form the condition often gets even worse than before.
What many fanciers do then is start medicating again till they have fallen in that "famous circle" that will hang like a noose round the neck.
In some cases for the rest of their career.
With other words:
- Fanciers (ab)using medicine will find the pathogens will be knocked down the first time.
- The second time the pathogens will just stagger.
- The third time they will just shrug and then knock the fancier down.
Of course it is not that simple, but you know what I mean.
How can the fancier help pigeons that moult?
Mainly by leaving the birds alone! A special "moulting mixture" will not help. The term is very misleading.
What does help is rest and a regular bath. If ever birds are in need of a bath it is in this time of the year. As for food additives, the only one in which I believe (a bit) is Sedochol. And naturally birds that start moulting should be in perfect health. Why do so many Champions medicate directly AFTER the racing season?
Because "directly after the racing season" means "directly before the moult".
Why is paratyphoid often a problem in fall?
It is not only paratyphoid but other diseases such as ornithosis (chlamydia) as well which often emerge in this time of year.
The hormones that are responsible for the moult become active due to shorter days.
And renewing the feathers in a short time demands so much from the pigeon body that it becomes very weak and vulnerable.
It is the only time of the year that I give my pigeons vitamins.
What is the best system in young bird racing?
Young bird racing is popular in Belgium and WAS popular in Holland. Unfortunately many Dutch lose interest today due to stupid restrictions. Animal protectors that lost contact with reality are responsible for it.
In Belgium those alternative gooders have less power or influence. Since two years there are long distance races for young birds on 6 consecutive Saturdays. Those races from 500 to 630 kilometres became very popular.
There are 3 systems that have proven to work.
- Mate young birds with old partners and race them on the nest. A disadvantage is this works for 3 weeks maximum. And an even bigger disadvantage is that such birds do not train and you have to go on the road with them. Or force them to train.
- Another system is mate young birds with old partners and race widowhood.
- And finally race with separated sexes. This is the most popular system today. The good thing about this system is that the youngsters will train of their own and you need not go on the road with them. You can successfully practise this system for 8 weeks maximum. Then the birds will lose interest.
Since the young bird season in Belgium lasts 5 months most fanciers will start the young bird season with other birds than those that they want to race long distance.
They are mainly babies of the second round that are entered for the nationals in August and September.
I found that the condition is at its best when the birds have been separated for 5 weeks.
Racing babies natural means you have to go on the road with them. That is a lot of work less
hard if you have some help.
Me and myself
In the 80-ies and 90-is I was described in the pigeon magazines as the best young bird racer of Holland. Others called me "Mr Orleans" because every year my birds performed extremely well in THE RACE OF ALL RACES.
But not everybody admired me, on the contrary. An American who raced pigeons here at the time but got beaten every Orleans race called me "the King of drugs".
But what I did was in fact quite simple. When I found that the condition was at its best 5 weeks after the sexes were separated I separated the sexes 5 weeks before Orleans. Things can be as simple as that.
Is it true that there are different types of long distance birds?
That is true indeed.
Pau and Barcelona are so-called 2 day races and indeed, the birds that win those races are of another type than the ones that win one day races.
Concerning this there is a great difference between Holland and Belgium.
In Belgium races from 800 kilometres are released early morning.
In Holland races of such distance are released at noon so that no bird can make it home on the day. It is generally known that the Dutch dominate 2 day races such as Barcelona.
Eric Limbourg tried out Dutch birds on the one day races. They failed. Some Dutchmen tried out Belgian "one day birds" in 2 day races. They also failed. Recently I handled the long distance aces from Jos Joosen, Rudi Desaer and Eric Limbourg. Fanciers who are successful in 800 kilometer races, released early morning. I got the impression those birds have become of a longer type.
They are the opposite of the short blocked birds like the Janssens were.
How come?
This longer type of birds is the result of selection based on results on the one day races throughout the years.
Why do se few European champions buy pigeons through the Internet?
Those champions who buy through the Internet mainly want to do the auctioneer a favour. They had successful auctions themselves before and one good turn deserves another. At least that is what they think. But the majority of the champions do not even think about buying through the internet. They just do not want birds in their lofts or breed from birds that they did not handle.
I cannot afford much money. From whom would you advise to buy?
Definitely not from people who advertise a lot. Use your common sense.
Why do these people advertise?
The answer is they want to make money but there are no clients for their birds.
There is nothing wrong with trying to make money, but' why are there no clients for their birds? Food for thought. Everything has a reason.
Are NATIONAL champions also the best of the nation?
Absolutely not. The factor LUCK is very important in championships.
Good results or good birds are not decisive. Winning prizes with nominated birds (pick birds) is what matters. I will get back to it in another edition.