RIGHT OF REPLY
Changes and adjustments, tested through observation and follow-up, will always encounter strong resistance in the conservative world of pigeon fanciers. Just think of the rise of the digital world and the inevitable introduction of electronic timing systems.
In recent years, however, we have been confronted with complaints from fanciers whose pigeons returned home exhausted and completely broken down, from short-distance races to the small middle-distance races. Certainly not an example of animal welfare.
That is why the WAD was established: observation on site instead of shouting and making accusations from the comfort of an armchair. Everyone had their own theory which they were unwilling to abandon.
It quickly became clear that the problem was a combination of many factors: climate disruption (heat) and the related side effects such as transport equipment, basket stacking, the number of pigeons per basket, traffic, resting times, trucks, knowledgeable staff and shortages, ventilation, liberation sites, assistance at local clubs, inspections, etc. And yes, also the flooring material such as cardboard, PVC mats (formol?) and wood shavings.
All these factors influenced one central element: the continuous availability of accessible drinking water.
And we are not talking about 20 years ago, when ambient temperatures were still manageable. Back then, the lack of water was not yet an urgent issue. Transport trucks were better, traffic was lighter, and one night of transport was sufficient.
The use of cardboard at that time, in the search for suitable material, was indeed not a success: it was mostly corrugated cardboard, non-absorbent, curled up, people focused on cost price (leaving it in use for several weeks), it quickly became wet, watering was poorly thought out, etc.
Instead of referring to the distant past, people should take the effort to examine the currently tested cardboard: a thickness of 0.25–0.3 cm, solid, highly absorbent, ribbed (anti-noise and anti-slipping), single use only (!!) (therefore never mouldy), cheap (€0.30 per sheet or basket), and not a single pigeon with green legs. (The occasional pigeon with green legs is either sick or has not been fed.) Healthy, no formol, quickly replaced, no need for further disinfection, etc.
The arguments put forward by Lathouwers and Bauwens are perfectly valid when considering the use of today’s modern cardboard.
Argument 1: Water supply
The water remains clean and can stay available when good cardboard is used. Water contaminated with wood shavings carrying droppings had to be removed afterwards, and then time (staff and conditions) and space were needed to refill it.
That did not always happen: consciously or unconsciously, because of lack of time for maintenance of drinkers, refilling while still feeding, insufficient knowledge, etc. And that was the reason for poor returns home.
Argument 2: Feeding
When pure maize is provided at a quantity of 20–25 grams per pigeon, it is consumed very quickly, after which the famous “3-second rule” applies: the feed is not contaminated and nothing remains behind.
Argument 3: Hygiene
The coccidiosis story is a false argument. This problem is no longer what it was 20–30 years ago. Nowadays pigeons generally enter the basket in good condition and vaccinate themselves naturally.
Salmonella is another matter: drinking contaminated droppings is indeed a major source of infection, especially during multiple-night transport races (long middle-distance and long-distance races), combined with additional stress and super spreaders. Clean water (which also leaves much more time for proper care) and not overfeeding are therefore extremely important, although contamination cannot always be prevented.
As for the photos shown on various websites: they are clearly exaggerated and deliberately selected. You no longer see this today! Those pigeons were either sick, had not been fed, or were sitting on old-fashioned corrugated cardboard soaked with water.
We can now show countless pigeons and baskets in perfect condition.
And most importantly: since the proper supply of water and the improved understanding of the convoyers, there were no or very few complaints last year about poor returns home. The occasional pigeon still returning half dead is either sick or too stupid to find the water.
Kind regards,
Dr. C. Gijsbrechts