APPROACH

In just 20 years, an evolution for which humankind needs 500 years

Provided we - as pigeon fanciers - go about it intelligently, there is a new generation at the start just about every year. In humans, that's 25 years. Which means in theory, pigeons are able to evolve 25 times as quick as us humans. Additionally, we have the opportunity to couple "Mathieu Van der Poel" with "Marianne Vos", "Roger Federer with "Kim Clijsters" and "Lionel Messi" with "Alex Morgan". And this "super" x "super" generation after generation.
It's almost impossible to grasp the endless possibilities and gigantic opportunity we have.

Winter in winter and summer in summer

I dedicated my loft to breeding champions of nature: all oxigen, outdoors climate year round, windbreak mesh instead of glass or plexi and open ceilings under a enormous gable roof. The rooftiles are the old kind with gaps where the powder snow just flies through.

In front of the lofts, over the entire length, there are deep aviaries, only halfly roofed. The young birds, yearlings and hens can sit outside all year round, widowers only out of season. If they want to sit dry, they can. If they want to sit in the rain, they can.

During winter it's really cold en frosty, but in summer it's pleasant and not too hot. You cannot expect great form in april, but that isn't necessary either. I want them to be ready by summer, for the extreme long distance races, that's it.

Outdoors during winter, rain or shine

Out of season, all my pigeons fly out every other day. Hens on one day, Cocks on the next. Once again after the example of Noël Peiren. That way, they get extra hardened and are not able to cultivate winter fat. They also stay alert for the predatory bird... or at least most of them do. And by the start of the season in mid-april, they are ready to be trained.

'Barley cures' and 'detox cures' are not my style. I personally wouldn't be happy eating dry rusks for an entire month either. I much rather give them a varied mixture around noon everyday during winter, until the barley is left over.

You build resistance against diseases as a kid

I want strong, healthy champions of nature that never get sick. How I try to achieve this? No travel baskets as young birds. Grit, picking stone, water and consistently sufficient food. Never clean their drinking fontain. Same story for yearlings, as well as training without partners until Bourges (national, 450km) in early august.

If there is an occasional sick one, I don't intervene. Either it gets better on its own or the predatory bird gets lucky.

I consciously do not separate a sick young pigeon from the rest of them, because I rather have it 'infect' the loft mates a little. Obligatory vaccination against paramyxo as a young bird and a yearling, combined with a smallpox vaccin.

My two year-olds get to the start of the season without ever having gotten one medicine. By then, the weak pigeons are either dead, left behind or eaten by the predatory bird.

I believe in supplements, but I don't want them

Intelligence, vitality, mordant and character... are the qualities I look for. A pigeon sitting tight during winter and summer, alert and full of confidence. One that always shines in its skin and quickly recovers after an exhausting flight. A pigeon that doesn't shy away from heavy heat or bad weather, that is willing to fly far and alone but is also able to rise early.
And above all, I want this pigeon to have all of it by nature. It has to be anchored in its genes, without the help of powders, bottles, droplets or anything. Only then you can truly say: I can build an entire loft with that one.

I will always be searching for a pigeon like that, through intelligent breeding and stone hard selection.