Brootcoorens-De Leye (Onkerzele) 1st Prov. Lamotte-Beuvron 3,414 yearlings - fastest of 5,819d.

Normally Blois was provincially listed on the flight calendar but due to an outbreak of bird flu in Blois it was quickly decided to release the pigeons at Lamotte-Beuvron. Lamotte-Beuvron sounds new to many fanciers but this release point replaces the better known Orleans and Lamotte-Beuvron is some 23 kilometres away. 
Unlike in recent weeks, last Saturday the wind blew from the west and we were therefore not surprised that the fastest pigeons were clocked in the border region with the province of Flemish Brabant. 
Organiser FVOV was allowed to release 3,414 yearlings and 2,405 old (incl. doubled yearlings) with a day's delay and fastest of all became yearling cock "B22-4114730" of the husband-wife tandem Eric Brootcoorens and Marleen De Leye from Onkerzele (Geraardsbergen district).
The name Eric Brootcoorens is certainly not an unknown name in our East Flemish pigeon circles as several provincial victories already adorn his palmares. The pigeons used to be raced in Idegem, together with mother Elvire, but several years ago the pigeon story in Idegem was closed and only Onkerzele is still the scene. 

 

Cocks in power
Eric likes to race several races each weekend, setting his sights mainly on the middle, heavy half and long distance flights. He is a regular customer in the pigeon loft in Viane and regularly baskets in Lessen. He is a welcome guest in both pigeon lofts. With Erik it is always "fun" at the table because if anyone likes to talk about pigeons, it is him. 
The 2023 season started with a team of 35 widowers and 7 inexperienced late cocks. Asked if he doesn't play with hens, Erik replied, "No and maybe a big mistake of mine not to throw in hens. I play so much with widowers anyway. Nevertheless, I may have to try to master this system next season because when I see how many fanciers are so successful with hens, I am a street behind, so to speak."
"My old widowers did winter breeding. Hens and youngsters were weaned on time so the hens did not come with eggs a 2nd time. In mid-March they were then allowed to brood for a few days and then they were on widowhood. My yearlings were only paired in mid-March and they too were put on widowhood after a few days of brooding. My widowers live in 3 lofts. In the beginning, they are all put on the same race but as the season progresses, each one gets its separate programme. The cocks are basketed every 2 weeks and the long distance racers every 3 weeks. Rest does not always rust I have already experienced. "
"Widowers train twice a day at the beginning of the season, but since the warm period this is only in the morning very early and by very early I mean 5h45 - 6h in the morning. Despite being retired, I specially set my alarm clock to train my cocks very early."
"Since decades I have full confidence in Versele-Laga feeds. As a basis there is Gerry Plus and towards the end of the week we feed them Champion and Energy Plus. The pigeons that stay at home for a week are also fed and on the day the others have to fly, they are not fed so that they have enough appetite again. Every week the same system of care can certainly not hurt widowers. Regularity is not such a bad thing. 
Widowers are fed in a joint feeder. I have a fixed measuring cup as a yardstick.
I have a wide range of by-products in my cupboard. Frequently used by-products are: elderberry syrup + brewer's yeast, Boost X5 (Oropharma), Muscle Power (Oropharma) and also Gervit W (Röhnfried) and Belgasol (De Weerd). Worth mentioning is, if I add by-products to the feed, I only do so in the morning. In the afternoon, they always get pure grains.
Medically, I sit in the waiting room of vet Wim Boddaert (Oostkamp) every month during the racing season. His advice is followed blindly. Against tricho, before the start of the season, I give a cure for a few days and then all pigeons get a yellow drop in each nostril every week. By all pigeons I mean all widowers, all widower hens and all youngsters. A lot of work, but I think it's worth putting my time and energy into it. 
Have I given anything against ornithosis lately? Well, yes...the week before Orleans they were vaccinated for 3 days."
Eric and Marleen, congratulations on this new provincial win and we are sure that the next big win will not be long in coming. 
 

Stefan Mertens