Strain formation
André already started the pigeon fancier adventure in 1972. While he had in fact been known for many years as a speed virtuoso, he chose in 2013-2014 to also take part in middle distance and great middle distance. Since then, we find his name at the top of the results every week, and from pure speed to the great middle distance! the races that are responsible for it here are: logically also not the least. Over the last 7-8 years, he spared neither his effort nor his money to acquire cracks from world famous colonies and this obviously with success! Direct pigeons from Jos Vercammen, Vermeerbergen-Wilms, Philippe Dobbelaere, Luc Delaere, Gaston Van De Wouwer, PEC, Wout Spierings, Hok Verhestraeten, Joël Verschoot, Mark Vlaeminck, Andreas Drapa, Broeckx-Van Hees, and David Vermassen took the path to the breeding loft in Moerzeke to form this great middle distance strain. But also pigeons from the lines of Gaby Vandenabeele, Leo Heremans and Bart Geerinckx have found a new home in André's facilities.
Colony composition and game system
This formidable breeding loft is in the attic and has about 40 pairs. They are mated on December 1st and raise a first round of about 75 youngsters and a second of about 40 youngsters. In addition, he still breeds about forty summer youngsters, only the very best pigeons.
The early youngsters are put in the dark from March until June 21 (summer solstice) and then, we switch to artificial lighting to maintain the long summer days, from 5:00 p.m. until 11 p.m. Dressages start at 5 km (2 X), then 2 X 15 km, 2 X 35 km, then Quiévrain, Noyon and Sermaises. The youngsters destined for the middle distance and long middle distance competitions are raced according to the sliding door system, while the youngsters for the speed (about 25 youngsters) can make a nest.
As far as old pigeons are concerned, André plays both cocks and hens, both with partners who stay at the loft. The widowers are mated exactly like the breeders, on December 1st and the game females will not have eggs until the beginning of March and they can only brood, without breeding. André: “Since we started the game with the hens, the results were also very satisfactory, despite the fact that in principle I was used to playing traditional widowhood with the cocks for many years…. The game with females still knows, for me, many secrets, also in terms of training, because doing long volleys, they don't know. But as long as the results are good, it doesn't keep me awake. The system I use is quite simple: the females stay in a small aviary in front of the dovecote and in bad weather, they can go inside. Before basketing, they can stay ten minutes near their male and when they return from the competition, they stay together until the next morning.’’
Medical monitoring and diet in detail
It is the veterinarian Johan Van der Cruyssen from Oosterzele who takes care of the medical follow-up, although checks are only carried out in the event of possible problems. In March all pigeons are vaccinated against paramyxo and in October against paratyphoid.
The careful care regimen is as follows:
Saturday after the competition: the “Opbouw Beyers Elite” or sport (Paloma) with garlic oil and “Recovery” (Beyers) on the food.
On Sunday ; the ''Vandenabeele'' mix from Beyers or the D008 ''Start'' from Paloma with again garlic oil and ''Recovery''
Monday morning: the Vandenabeele mix from Beyers or the D008 ''Start'' from Paloma with ''Probac 1000'' (Brockamp) or ''Lactobac'' (Van der Cruyssen).
Monday evening: “Opbouw Beyers Elite” or sports (Paloma) with “Probac 1000” (Brockamp) or “Lactobac (Van der Cruyssen).
On Tuesdays, they again receive “Opbouw Beyers Elite” or sports (Paloma).
Wednesday: Energy (Beyers) or Olympic Diamond D008 from Paloma with wheat germ oil, dried with Energy (Beyers).
Thursday: ''Energy'' (Beyers) or Olympic Diamond D008 from Paloma supplemented with pieces of cheese, wheat germ oil and ''Powerfly'' (Pro.Bel.Fly) .
In the drinking water, we mainly give “Belgasol” from De Weerd: this on the day of the return from the competition, the following day and in hot weather, also on the day of basketing. On Mondays, we change for “Maxi Recup” from Paloma and on Wednesdays, from CMK de Brockamp (muscle strengthening).
LOKERSE FUND (fund in Lokeren):
2nd King General 1
+2 old birds, yearlings, youngsters
3rd champion 1 +2 long middle distance
4th champion 1 +2 long middle distance yearlings
1st champion 1+ 2 + 3 youth long distance
1st super league 1st scored
5th ace pigeon old middle distance (4134016/20)
1st ace pigeon long middle distance youth (4140281/22)
2nd ace pigeon long middle distance youth (4140282/22)
5th ace pigeon long middle distance youth (4140213/22)
3 sisters
LAND VAN AALST (Pays d’Alost) short middle distance
1st General King 1 +2 old birds, yearlings, youngsters
2nd champion 1 + 2 old
2nd champion 1 + 2 yearlings
3rd champion 1 + 2 youngsters
2nd points competition
2nd champion 1 +2 + 3 old
2nd champion 1 + 2 +3 yearlings
2nd champion 1 + 2 +3 youngsters
2nd overall champion with most prizes
2nd champion with the most old prizes
4th champion in most yearling prizes
3rd and 5th ace pigeon old birds
4th and 7th ace pigeon yearlings
Interprovincial OVV:
2nd Interprovincial champion 1 +2 old birds, yearlings, youngsters
5th champion 1 + 2 old birds and yearlings
6th champion 1 +2 youngsters
FVOV Interprovincial:
7th General champion 1 + 2 old birds, yearlings, youngsters
6th champion 1 +2 youngsters
7th champion 1 +2 young background
Quievrain Kastel:
2nd champion 1 + 2 old
2nd King General 1 + 2 old birds, yearlings, youngsters
2nd champion in the most youth prizes
Provincial KBDB East Flanders:
5th big old middle distance
6th big youth middle distance
11th junior middle distance youth
7th ace pigeon long middle distance youth (4140281/22)
8th ace pigeon young middle distance (4140213/22)
8th ace pigeon all-round old birds (4140020/20)
Gentse 5 daagse (5 days from Ghent): not yet known
AJD Deux Flandres: not yet known
2021 Championships
Despite not being able to play for 4 weeks due to an outbreak of bird flu in the neighborhood, still earned the following citations:
SERMAIS Land van Aalst:
1st champion yearlings 1 + 2
4th King General 1 +2
4th champion 1 + 2 +3 old
5th champion 1 +2 + 3 yearlings
4th old ace pigeon
5th and 6th ace pigeon yearlings
LOKERSE FUNDCLUB:
3rd King General old birds and yearlings
4th champion 1 + 2 old
2020 Championships
INTERPROVINCIAL OVV:
2nd Interprovincial Old/Yearling Champion
13th Youth Interprovincial Champion
15th overall champion
KBDB East Flanders PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
3rd provincial champion 1 + 2 old (27th national)
4th provincial champion 1 +2 yearlings
5th provincial youth ace pigeon (16th national)
LOKERSE FUNDCLUB:
3rd King General Lokerse Fondclub (1 +2)
2nd champion 1 +2 long middle distance old
1st champion 1 + 2 long middle distance yearlings
3rd champion 1 +2 +3 young background
2nd ace pigeon old birds (4137762/17)
SERMAIS Land van Aalst:
1st King General 1+2
7th old champion 1 +2
7th champion 1 + 2 +3
5th champion yearlings 1 + 2
1st youth champion 1 + 2
1st youth champion 1 + 2 +3
2nd young ace pigeon: 4134094/20
AJD Two Flanders:
2nd champion 1 +2 long middle distance old birds and yearlings
GENTSE VIJFDAAGSE (5 Days from Ghent):
1st Elite cup (old birds + yearlings)
1st ace pigeon National Elite Cup 2020
1st Provincial Issoudun old (4137762/17) 2563 old
1st national Zone B1 3129 pigeons, fastest of 9474 pigeons
7th national old birds 10603 pigeons
Quievrain Kastel:
1st champion with most prizes
1st champion 1+2 yearlings
