For the last three seasons, we race the cocks on classic widowhood. This means that there is always a partner at home for the widowers.
The breeding pigeons and one loft of widowers are coupled between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The breeders’ eggs are placed under the widowers. Only the best widowers are allowed to raise their own youngster. Three weeks later this is repeated and the breeders’ eggs are placed in the second loft with widowers. The breeders may raise the 3rd and possibly 4th round themselves. When the widowers start to mate again, the hens are removed before they start laying eggs. Half of the youngsters go with the hens, the other half are put on the floor with the widowers as soon as a youngster jumps out of the breeding loft. This way the youngsters are not destroyed by fighting. When the youngsters eat independently, they move to the young pigeon loft and the cocks are on widowhood.
Widowers are darkened from March 1 through the first week of May. The widowers are darkened from March 1 to the first week of May. This depends on the date of the first one-day long distance race. About 12 hours a day. The cage is not completely dark. Roller blinds for the doors and the screens in the skylights close. Nevertheless, most widowers threw at most three flights in the last one-day long distance race. Additional lighting will take place from June 21 from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with regular energy-saving light bulbs.
During the breeding season the pigeons are exclusively fed Matador Premium Super Breeding. The pigeons must eat everything before they are given new food. In addition, they receive CeeDee egg food. The widowers are fed individually in jars. As much as they like. The jars remain in place all day. Fresh food comes in the evening after training. The jars are removed late at night. Only the composition of the food varies. During the sprint races at the beginning of the week Matador Start and Beijers Zoontjes 50/50. The last days Matador Athletic and the last day before basketing Matador Turbo Energy. Furthermore, a handful of candy seeds and P40 are always added. During the one-day long distance races, Super Breeding and Turbo Energy are fed for two days after arrival to help them recover. They are given Backs proteins in their food. Then we slow them down with Matador Start and Beijers Zoontjes. In the second week from Monday, the Start disappears from the food and then more and more fat is fed and chopped peanuts are also added. During the moulting season only Matador Premium Super Rui (Super Moult)
Belief in supplements is minimal. Of course, pigeons cannot do without grit and they receive a handful of grit/minerals every day. We use the vitamin/mineral mix Multilith from DHP and Ostrea grit. During the racing season they are given Backs Protein after a tough flight. These are proteins for quick recovery.
During the moult, we occasionally use Backs Balance or TKK in the water. Forte Vita or DHP Darba Complete has the same effect, but I actually only use it during the moulting/winter period if I happen to have it available.
Additional egg food is given during breeding. They like to eat it so it must be good. In addition to the above, they do not receive any additional vitamins.
Medically, we are quick to respond on illnesses. This does not mean that we add something into the water bowl or over the food every week. On the contrary. Our vision is that every day you don’t have to give medication you come closer to top forme. So we do not add systematically a certain medicine to the drinking water when the pigeons return. It does mean that the pigeons are carefully examined every day and if anything seems to be wrong, the vet is consulted and we follow his advice. Our veterinarian is Stephan Göbel. For the completeness, when basketing, both the young and old pigeons receive an eye drop from Belgica De Weerd. The loft is also sometimes fumigated if too many pigeons are sneezing (usually only once a year) and the old pigeons are given SAS (anti-slime) drops from Travipharma 2 to 3 times per season. Lice is treated with a product from Beaphar.
From the beginning of March, the young pigeons are given an open loft all day long. Before training at 7.30 am they get food: Matador Superkweek. In the afternoon around 4 p.m., Marit brings in the youngsters and feeds them with Superkweek again. They will be darkened from April 1. Around 6 p.m. the roller blinds go on the windows until 7:30 a.m. the next morning. From the beginning of July, additional lighting will be provided from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
From May 1, there must be more discipline and the regime will change. The food is adjusted: 1/3 part Start, 1/3 part Zoontjes and 1/3 part Athletic as much as they like, but nothing should be left over. The pigeons are released at 7:00 am and stay in the loft after training.
Race training starts at the beginning of June. First from our own garden. Then at distances of 3, 8, 17, 30 and 40 km. If there is time, once from 70 km. Training is mainly carried out immediately after the morning training. The young pigeons have to lose most of their energy first. Upon returning home, there is full house.
When the youngsters start messing around with each other and train worse, the cocks are separated from the hens. From that moment on, we play them ‘on the door’. On Wednesday they will have a training flight of 40 km. On Friday, the door between the young cocks and hens opens and they are allowed to mess around for about an hour, after which they are basketed. After returning home, they can stay together until Sunday afternoon.
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