Top lofts such as De Belser, Wouters, Engels and grandmaster Gaston Van De Wouwer took this young chap under their wing, resulting in a breeding loft to lick your thumbs and fingers!
Joran (20) caught the pigeon bug in 2014. Every Sunday he went to a neighbor to watch the pigeons from the sprint races. He started playing with the pigeons independently from 2016 in a garden shed. He combines his passion for the pigeon sport with a job as a carpenter at an interior design company. The care of the colony is done exclusively by Joran himself, as his parents have little interest in the pigeon sport. As a mentor Joran can always rely on an established value in the pigeon world: Johan Van Herck, who is also largely responsible for training the pigeons. In connection with coupling and basketing Joran can also count on the advice of grandmasters Gaston Van de Wouwer and Johan De Belser.
Loft file and game system
The colony has 30 breeding couples, 15 feeding couples, 20 old and yearling hens and 80 youngsters from the first round. The common thread through the loft stock is above all the best lines of Gaston Van de Wouwer, supplemented with pigeons from De Belser Johan, Engels Jules & Yves, Thys Nick & Roger, Van Hertem-Schuurmans, and Wouters Marcel.
For 2021 it was decided to only race with old and yearling hens. The old hens are coupled on March 15th and are allowed to breed for 10 days after which they are put on widowhood. From 2021, they have also joined forces with Johan Van Herck to play tandem.
The young pigeon loft consists of a run of 13 meters by 2 meters with windbreak mesh. A striking feature of the loft is the blue flashing light with which the young are brought in. The flashing light can be set at what time and for how long it should be on. The lamp can also be set to come on when the pigeons come back from training, so that they know they can go in when they get home. The youngsters will be raced on the sliding door and some young hens will be assigned a permanent (old) partner. Joran:
“We have not yet decided on the darkening, it is difficult because the youngsters are in an open run. In 2022 a solution will have to be found to be able to darken the boy.”
The youngsters are kept short from the start and may not, for example, sit on the ground. If the youngsters fly well around the loft, it is only flying OR in the loft; if a pigeon falls on the ridge of the roof, it is chased off so that it falls on the sputnik. After chasing the pigeon a few times, they usually all immediately fall on the sputnik. Learning is slow and in small steps 1km, 2km, 5km, 7km, 10km, 12km, 15km, 25km, 40km, 60km and 110km. And if necessary, we even take a step back.
Medical and Nutrition
Vincent Schroeder and Trigenio are consulted on a regular basis. An annual check is carried out at Vincent and the schedules are reviewed. In 2021, a manure test will take place every 3 weeks. If a pigeon gets hurt or suddenly becomes ill, Joran goes to a vet close to home. Checks are now only made if something occurs that is not normal or if there is a suspicion of a disease or condition.
In terms of food, various mixtures of different brands are mixed. By-products are mainly used by Vincent Schroeder and to a limited extent, because according to Joran nothing beats a strong natural resistance.
Before breeding, a small routine check is done. 2 months before breeding, all pigeons are dewormed and for 10 days before the coupling, wheat germ oil is added to the feed every day and some more hempseed is added. During the breeding season, egg food, breeding pellets, candy seed and tovo are offered every day. In preparation for the racing season, the old pigeons are coupled on March 15 and are allowed to breed for 10 days. From stowage to incubation training is done: 1km, 5km 7km, 10km, 20km, 40km, 60km and race from Quiévrain.
No lack of ambition
Joran: “I started in the sprint races, soon I got to know Gaston Van De Wouwer and I switched to the middle distance. Now the breeding loft only consists of pigeons that are intended for the small middle distance and in 2021 all youngsters will be raced in the nationals. The great ambition is to perhaps become a professional and to be able to achieve top results from the middle distance to Barcelona. As a young enthusiast it is not easy to start with. You often get the reaction “You don't know what you're getting into...”, “You can't keep up with that, can you” or “Snot nose, do you know anything about pigeons?” These reactions can sometimes be very hard. Therefore, I would like to spread this message to the “older generation”: Give the young fanciers the opportunity to teach them how to deal with pigeons and take them with you into your loft. Tell them the tricks of the trade. This hobby requires a lot of time and responsibility, but you get so much in return!
