Crucke Koen - Onkerzele 1st Prov. Bourges East Flanders 2,224 yearlings - fastest of 3,496d.

Onkerzele, borough of Geraardbergen, located between the "Muur" and "Bosberg", which is well-known in the cycling world, is where Koen collects his provincial and national zone victories every year. This season too, it has already been "bingo". Everything started on the first national Bourges/Vierzon flight. Then it was hen "Nancy" (B22-4012712) who took the sheet and flaunted the national zone victory. Nationally, we found her ring number in place 7 against 18,729 yearling birds. 
And then last WE, back from Bourges/Vierzon, both the provincial and national zone victory was taken. This time it was hen "Lotte" (B22-4008418) who timed the flowers against the proverbial ceiling. "Lotte" was not only the fastest of the 2,224 yearling birds but, with an average speed of 1,601.23 m/m, she was also the only East Flemish Bourges flyer to cross the 1,600m/m mark and was the fastest of all 3,496 pigeons. 


 

Both with hens and cocks on widowhood.
The 2023 season started with 40 hens and 29 cocks all raced with home partners. As the 2 provincial victories were won by hens, we better explain Koen's hens system because Koen has set up his own system over the years. This system is in fact a "jalousie system" where 2 hens are paired on 1 cock. At the end of November, the first group of hens was paired against the cocks and once their youngsters were weaned, the 2nd group of hens came into the loft. This second group was only allowed to breed for about 4 days. For your information... "Lotte" was in the group that bred one youngster but Koen knows to say that he sees no difference in performance between the two groups. 
Once the breeding of the 2nd group is finished, they go into the aviary for a while where they get a low-protein but carbohydrate-rich mixture - Ipac Special - in the feeder. During this period, fresh tea is made several times a week. 

 

Once the weather allows it, the training baskets are taken out of the attic and in several steps it's off to Quievrain (45km). "When training I dare to release racing hens and widowers together" says Koen "this way they are rewarded by seeing someone of the opposite sex, but they are not yet super motivated by crawling into the box with their actual partner. Once Noyon (150km) they will then be allowed to join their own partner. 
To motivate the hens, Koen has made special boxes for them. The front houses the hens and at the back the box is as big as the 2 front boxes so both hens can see the same cock. On the day of basketing, the hens are only allowed to see their cock and when they return home, the first arriving hen is allowed to see the cock and the other hen has to watch their love game from behind bars. In this way, Koen hopes to give the ladies extra stimulation.
Both cocks and hens have the same care system. They work by feel with the Beyers mixtures "Galaxy Light" and "Galaxy Energy" and the last few days do not watch a portion of peanut nuts, V-Power or Tovo. 
Lecithin Oil (Brockamp), RoRo (vitamins Röhnfried) and Boost X 5 (Oropharma) are mixed weekly over the feed. 

Medically, the advice of vet Wim Boddaert is being followed. Koen says: "As already mentioned, I had a brilliant season start but afterwards there was a bit of a dip in the pigeons' condition. Prizes and prizes per dozen were sufficient but the "real top prizes" were a bit lacking. Then it was decided to treat the top prizes for 3 days and the tide turned. My name was at the top of the results again."
Trichomoniasis is controlled by providing the well-known yellow drops together with Belgasol in the drinking water every week. When they get home, this is already ready. 
The basis of the Crucke colony starts with its own grey strain and was successfully enriched over the years with original pigeons from Marcel Aelbrecht (Lebbeke), Bert Vanden Berghe (Wortegem-Petegem) and Anthony Maes (Waregem) 
It is not the first and it will not be the last time we will report on this successful colony. Koen is a fancier "pur sang" and combine this with the class present on the lofts and then "success" is never far away. 
Stefan Mertens