Vissenaken, a part of the sugary city Tienen, evolved over 20 years from a quiet rural village to a popular residential destination for young families... However, pigeon fanciers are a dying breed here... At the turn of the century, the village boasted 20-25 enthusiasts, but now we are left with barely 2... So there is no question of ‘pigeon migration’ or lying in ‘the goal’, or to put it in the words of Toon and Olav: “if we see a pigeon here, it’s one of ours”...
The tandem was formed in 2008 from 2 former father-son combinations
- Toon Veulemans, now 49 and PE teacher, and dad André, 88 and retired farmer
- Olav Perilleux, 48 and independent IT consultant, and dad Jacques, 78 and former banker
Previously, both fathers, especially André, were responsible for daily care. In recent years, it had mainly been Toon who took on the caregiving before and after work, in the evenings, on weekends, and during holidays... Given the size of the colony, that’s no small feat, and the recently found help was more than welcome...
Both friends lay down the lines together and usually discuss everything in detail. Since the pigeons mainly reside with André and Olav has had to deal with ‘pigeon lung’, Toon takes on the active care while Olav handles the extensive administration. However, selection and pairing are still done and decided together...
From the start, the new tandem was immediately successful, drawing from the already rich breeding stock of Toon and André, supplemented with a few top performers from Olav’s loft. Since their merger, they have won no less than 3 times nationally, 1x semi-national, and 13 times national zone! A summary below...
- 1st National Bourges 24019 YL 2014
- 1st National La Souterraine 9580 YL 2016 Fastest 17211 pigeons
- 1st National Gueret 2429 OB 2014
- 1st semi-National Montlucon 7700 YL 2011
- 1st National Zone C Montlucon 6281 YL 2012
- 1st National Zone B2 Argenton 5842 YB 2020
- 1st National Zone C1 Bourges 4977 YL 2014
- 1st National Zone C Bourges 4390 YL 2010
- 1st National Zone C Bourges 4381 YL 2012
- 1st National Zone C1 Argenton 3634 YB 2013
- 1st National Zone C1 La Souterraine 3207 YB 2014
- 1st National Zone C Gueret 3127 YB 2007
- 1st National Zone B2 La Souterraine 2812 YL 2016
- 1st National Zone C Argenton 2647 YL 2012
- 1st National Zone B2 Tulle 1480 OB 2019
- 1st National Zone B2 Tulle 1087 OB 2018
- 1st National Zone C1 Gueret 774 OB 2014
In addition to old glories such as ‘De Armstrong’ Rudi Hendrikx and inbred to the “As” Clerinx, ‘De Vangrembergen’ Lambrechts-Lismont from Kortenaken, ‘De Blois 933/99’ breeds Pauwels (Herne), Jos Deno, Houben, Jos ‘Klak’, Vanhove-Uyterhoeven, Voets, Lammens or the best Belgium had to offer at that time and ‘De Limo 809/00’ breed Sylvain D’Hondt, Eddy Leutenez via Rob Nijs, Vissenaken, it is mainly the descendants of the “Platinum Pair” 279-09 x 375-00 that are responsible for the broad foundation of the loft!
The 279/99 was bred from the “Goede Nagels”, a very good racing pigeon with a father directly from Maurice Nagels (Ransberg) and with a mother from Serré-Laporte (Tessenderlo). The mother of 279 was obtained from Mathieu Roox, Veldwezelt. “Nathalia” comes directly from Rudi Hendrikx and is a daughter of his “Mosch Ludo” (Thijs-Peeters) with “Dikke Duivin”, breeds Milissen, Borgmans, Smeets, and together they formed the ‘Platinum Pair’...
Platinum breeding performances, as no less than 13 – you read that right! – 13 different offspring from this pair became after their career either parents or grandparents of a (inter)provincial or (semi-) National (zone) winner!
For instance, ‘318-09’ was the mother of “Golden Francine”, 1st National Bourges 24019 ‘14 yearlings; ‘Black 564-04’ became the father of “Rinus”, 1st National La Souterraine 9602 yearlings ‘16 + fastest from the release of 17219 pigeons, and ‘Broken Wing 896-05’ contributed among others “Festina”, 1st National Gueret 2429 old ’14 as well as “Miet”, 1st National Zone C Gueret 3127 young; a son of Broken Wing has already formed a new super couple which we will discuss later.
With the children from the “Platinum Pair”, countless sporting successes have also been achieved, top performer “B-52” - 252-08 for example won among others 10th National Bourges 22516, 26th National Bourges 10906, 38th National Argenton 11001, in addition to these 3 local wins, he was also beaten 2 more times by a loft mate from Chateauroux 2nd club 446 d. and Orleans 2nd club 698 pigeons. Also on the breeding loft, he proved to be an excellent sire and became the father of now top breeder “Firestar” with among others 1st National Zone C Bourges 4381 yearlings and “Skystar 693-16”, mother “708-20” with 1st National Zone B2 Argenton 5842 young pigeons, 1st ace pigeon young HAFO Verbroedering Tienen, 5th provincial ace pigeon half fond and 5th provincial ace pigeon all-round KBDB Flemish Brabant!
With so many children from the same pair on the breeding loft, crossings must also be made, and excellent material has been obtained over the years from quite a few fanciers.
At the sale of Maurice and Ivan Vandersmissen from Rummen, “Terminator Smis” was purchased. He was a doffer with 10 first prizes in speed and easily passed on his winning genes. He bred excellent pigeons with no less than 7 different hens, among his children for example “532-14” with among others 7th National Argenton 27267 pigeons, “Ivangeline” who won 10th National Bourges and currently forms a top couple with son “Broken Wing” and “Fantastic Firestar”, 3rd provincial ace pigeon all-round yearlings as main examples.
At Albert Derwa, the father of the 1st National Bourges was chosen from a wide selection of offered young at the exchange of a voucher.
With ‘golden’ Gaston Van De Wouwer, several vouchers were exchanged for 8 grandchildren of the ‘Kaasboer’, 5 of whom bred 1st prize winners and/or ace pigeons locally and several exceptional results in national flights! The Van De Wouwer pigeons have also contributed significantly to many of the recent successes...
With Michel Lossignol and Leon Kemerlincx from Budingen, a few pigeons were exchanged, and from one of them we bred “Aelina”, with among others 6th National Gueret 16262, 14th National La Souterraine 7631, 29th National Tours 24097, 2 x first regional Blois and furthermore 1:100 from Soissons, Lorris, and Bourges… one of our best hens ever.
Beautiful victories were further achieved with descendants from a pigeon from Hazevoets and sons from Kozen, the “Golden Pair” of Ronny Menten; a breeding couple purchased at the total sale of Kitano Masao and inspirer Clement Matterne (parents 1st National Zone B2 Tulle); a number of played young pigeons from the loft Thijs-Peters; a young pigeon a voucher pigeon from Jos Thoné; pigeons from Frederik Motton (now Motton-Coel) as well as pigeons from the total sale of the late Hervé and Erwin Vanparijs where we bought back our own pigeons and some of their crossed descendants...
One of those repurchased Vanparijs pigeons, 847-11 “Melita” – full sister of “Melito”, winner 1st Nat(z) Bourges 4390 – 4th Nat 17061 d and among others father “737-11” with 11th Nat Chateauroux 22254 d and 13th Nat Bourges 14571 d as well as grandfather 1st Nat. Chateauroux 8594 d and fastest 17447 d – has since turned into an absolute top breeder and has among others become the mother of 416-19 “Iron Melita” – 2nd Nat Tulle 5067 d and 627-21 “Iron Melivo” – 2nd Nat Bourges 24220 d !!!
Recently, success has been achieved with pigeons from:
Ivo Renders: in addition to a round of young pigeons played at our own loft, 933-18 won among others 1st Laon 1363, 1st Laon 493, 1st Tulle 119 – 7th National Zone B2 1790 pigeons, 58th Nat Argenton 16762, and 156th Nat Issoudun 10603, notably on this last flight, his nest sister 934-18 won 1st club 175, 27th National), a doffer from Ivo became among others the father of the above-mentioned 627-21 “Iron Melivo” – 2nd Nat Bourges 24220 d !!!
Davy Tournelle (from the purchased ‘050-15’, paired to our 1st National La Souterraine Rinus, has already bred several excellent pigeons such as ‘560-19’ with 43rd PIPA ranking with 6 national flights and 91st place KBDB ace pigeon heavy HAFO yearlings where we also find her full sister ‘402-19’ in 170th place and also from a swapped doffer, we have already bred ‘778-19’ with 1st club Gueret 276 pigeons)
and also descendants from the now 14 direct Willem De Bruijn pigeons...
Our few visits to Willem have been particularly successful, not only due to his super breeding pigeons but certainly also because of his advice and pigeon wisdom. Willem is also a champion in pigeon efficiency, and if he spends the necessary time somewhere, you can be sure it matters. Anyone wanting to learn reads it weekly in his column!
Under the influence of Willem, we started to train the young pigeons better, and unlike before when they flew Momignies in 5 stages, they are now released 15 to 25 times. We noticed a clear difference with negligible losses throughout the entire season and more pigeons at the front of the major races.
Also regarding feeding and playing systems, adjustments have been made in recent years; we were very intrigued by the seemingly very simple feeding and playing methods of Willem de Bruijn and the Vandenheede brothers and further adapted our method...
In the last 3 seasons, 79 pure first prizes were won in Vissenaken... 17 with old pigeons, 34 with yearlings, and 28 with young ones, mainly in the (heavy) half fond... Quite impressive figures, especially knowing that the different flying teams were rarely split over multiple flights or intake locations...
The backbone of all that success is formed by a breeding loft with about 50 pairs. Each year, about 8 doffers are selected that are repeatedly re-paired and thus, especially during the first months of the breeding season, do not rear young... Willem De Bruijn’s system, so to speak... In this way, they try to get a faster and better view of the individual breeding quality of the pigeons and manage to race more pigeons from the best or better breeders...
For instance, from “Pearlstone 177-18” in his first year at the breeding loft, 10 young were bred with three different hens. Out of these ten young, no less than 7 won per 100, including for instance “647-21” who became ace pigeon young pigeons HAFO OBRAFO with among others 1st Melun 474 d – 4th s-prov 3478 d; “762-21” with among others 8th Momignies 669 d, 4th Laon 804 d, 5th Soissons 360 d, and 6th Chateauroux 684 d; and also “734-21” with among others 8th Soissons 1060 d and 1st Chateauroux 399 d – 9th Nat. 18741 d. One of the last has a full sister in the sale at KOOP 1!
Also “Tudor 787-16” has emerged as an excellent breeder in this way, he provided in 2 years’ time 3 different 1st prize winners with equally different hens! For instance, “484-21” with 1st Sermaises 672 d – 4th s-prov 3740 d, 16th prov Melun 3478 p, 41st s-prov Lorris 4281 p; “648-21” with 1st Nevers 1189 d – 3rd s-Nat. 4036 d, and “141-22” with 1st Sermaises 1075 d, all daughters of this top doffer! By the way, under KOOP 18 is a brilliant daughter of “Tudor”!
“Tudor” has it from no stranger since his father “823-13”, son ‘Broken Wing’ x ‘Aura’ – 8th Nat Gueret, 6th Nat Chateauroux has formed a fixed couple with “Ivangeline 140-13” for several years. They are the parents of 9 different 1st prize winners and/or ace pigeons including for instance Tudor “787-16” with among others 1st National Zone B2 Tulle 1460 and 3rd s-Nat Aurillac 1797 on the palmares, “133-18” 2nd prov ace pigeon all-round and their currently best child the “529-19” who won 5 pure 1st prizes and among others became 2nd prov and 17th national ace pigeon heavy HAFO, as well as 3rd best yearling on 7 national flights in the PIPA ranking of this year!
“798-15 Rinus” – 1st Nat La Souterraine 9602 d and fastest 17219 d – is also such a great breeding doffer and has already fathered 10 different pigeons that won per 100... “683-20” for example which won among others 1st Sermaises 1063 d, 19th Sermaises 2975 d and 28th Sermaises 2471 d or “560-19” which won 9 times per 50 or better and became among others 43rd best pigeon PIPA ranking 6 national flights but also “822-20 Ricard” 1st prov Tulle – 5th Nat 7267 d is a son of “Rinus”. By the way, a brilliant brother of the last one is for sale at KOOP 15.
Lastly, let’s briefly highlight “336-14 Francine’s Foremost”… This splendid son of “Golden Francine” – 1st Nat. Bourges 24019 d also gives good with almost every hen and is already the father of among others 1st Sermaises 4195 d, 1st Momignies 2803 d, 1st Sermaises 895 d, 1st Nanteuil 207 d, 1st Soissons 222 d, 1st Melun 143 d, 2nd Soissons 1018 d, 5th Sermaises 2068 d, 9th Sermaises 2471 d… etc. etc. A brilliant son under KOOP 14!
The old racing team consists of about 60 pairs that are all raced on double widowhood without much frills. Thus, partners are not shown before departure. Upon return, all pigeons come home to the same loft, and it’s a fairground… Since all pigeons freely mate and partners are often lost, the pigeons usually remain together until the next morning. Thus, the pigeons whose partner remained behind have ample time to find a new partner.
The pigeons are paired around Christmas and usually in 2 ‘teams’ with a 2-week difference… This allowed for some eggs from the breeding pigeons to be raised by the racing pigeons. However, this was not ideal since mid to late December, the last feather only falls from the darkened young ones and because during the brood, the pigeons are shifted to the new lofts with often cold eggs etc. as a result... In the future, racing pigeons will also be paired later (probably around Candlemas) and only staggered brooding...
In spring, a health program is on the agenda for the old pigeons. Attention is then paid to loosening old down, de-fatting the organism, building up gut flora, purifying the airways... in short: trying to increase natural resistance. The pigeons regularly receive additives that would stimulate this and are lightly fed. Training is also resumed during this period. Both doffers and hens are normally trained 1x daily and are usually called back in after about 1 hour.
If the pigeons train well, racing starts from early March if the weather permits. How often it races varies greatly; the weather obviously plays a major role, but everything must also fit into everyone’s busy full-time work schedule. The partners are then released with a 15-minute interval to try to avoid fairground on the roof...
In spring, all old ones are re-vaccinated against pox, paramyxo, and paratyphus – the latter without a cure because no antibiotics are given at all in spring.
For tricho, a cure is given in spring, and then everything is kept under control by using the well-known ‘yellow drops’.
If something really goes wrong, we have relied on the expertise of Vincent Schroeder for years, but we can also always turn to our local veterinarians Wouter Kumpen and Benny Jacobs...
For nutrition, we have used 2 self-composed mixtures for a few years that are filled and delivered by Hoebregts bvba from Heers. Our “Training” is a light feed ideal for the beginning of the week and with our “Racing”, the pigeons are geared up... Excellent price/quality and simplicity itself, which has led many fanciers from the area to follow the same system...
The provided additives are intended to support the fairly heavy flight program and are focused on replenishing any moisture and mineral deficiencies after the flight and increasing the fat reserves before takeoff, plus better fat burning during the flight... For this, we have relied mainly on the range of Schroeder-Tollisan for years, but here and there, products from Röhnfried, Giantel, Paloma, etc. have also been used.
On the advice of Stijn Rans, we also tried several products that would promote immunity such as “Wonderpigeon” and “Col-Immunity Boost”, and we are now convinced that both products provide added value. Thus, all pigeons receive a product based on fatty acids in their drinking water daily.
Vaccinations are also highly valued, and both young and old are vaccinated several times a year against paramyxo and paratyphus. Especially with the approximately 250-300 young pigeons for personal use, a strict vaccination schedule is applied, so the early young are vaccinated 3x with a combination vaccination; this year, paramyxo-herpes during weaning and then every 3 weeks paramyxo-rota, paramyxo-pox, and paratyphus... An additional benefit of these vaccinations is that the pigeons are already accustomed to the basket before the training starts and that every pigeon must undergo an individual examination at least once a month, allowing us to maintain better visibility over the general condition and health of the young pigeons.
Of all the combined vaccinations, the ‘rota’ vaccination seems particularly important and effective against outbreaks of the dreaded ‘young pigeon’ disease...
The further medical supervision of the young pigeons is almost identical to that of the old ones. Young pigeons naturally face the typical eye inflammation every summer, against which nothing is generally undertaken, and antibiotic cures don’t help... Pigeons that are too weak simply stay home for a week.
The young pigeons are played on the sliding door and are not released again during the week after training. The young pigeons fly 1-3 times Momignies, about 3-4 times Soissons, and then tackle the half fond. It is also preferred to participate in at least one national flight, which benefits the experience level as yearlings. Since most young pigeons are flown from open aviaries and these lofts are not so cozy, selection is not only based on performance. Obviously, the pigeons that have already shown something are first selected, but there is usually also room for a number of pigeons that performed little or nothing as young pigeons. As yearlings and old ones, they must fly; anyone who can’t fly alongside a regular palmares per 10 or better not per 100 will be dismissed without a doubt.
We might conclude with the most beautiful victories since 2020 in a row...
Victories against more than 1000 pigeons...
- 1st Sermaises NHV 4195 young pigeons
- 1st Momignies 2803 old
- 1st Sermaises NHV 2471 young pigeons
- 1st Sermaises NHV 2161 yearlings
- 1st Sermaises NHV 2068 young pigeons
- 1st Melun NHV 1994 young pigeons
- 1st Issoudun i-prov 1269 yearlings
- 1st Melun club 1265 yearlings
- 1st Nevers 1189 old
- 1st Sermaises 1063 yearlings
- 1st Sermaises 1075 young
Provincial victories since 2020:
- 1st prov. Chateauroux 1519 yearlings (2010679-20) – 14th Nat. 10317 d
- 1st prov. Tulle 872 yearlings (2010822-20) – 5th Nat. 7267 d
- 1st prov. Tulle 493 old (2002416-19) – 2nd Nat. 5067 d.
- 1st prov. Chateauroux 2664 d. (2105013-22) – 4th Nat. 17081 d.
- 1st prov. Bourges 3866 yearlings – 2nd Nat. 24221 d.
- 1st prov. Argenton 3763 young – 5th Nat. 23280 d.