Christiaens - De Smedt (Pamel)

The Flemish Brabant municipality of Pamel, home of the Christiaens - De Smedt family we visited for the first time in 2015. That year was the confirmation of their entry into the long distance in 2014. 3 years later they have not let any top pigeon go yet and this colony owes its strength to the breadth from which they can breed! Only the very best are given a chance on the breeding loft and the top racers do not go abroad but stay in Pamel to take care of the future. And it is safe to say that the future looks bright after their top season 2018. They clocked one top pigeon after another with old and yearlings and are at the top of several championships at the end of the season. But first and foremost they became 1st National Champion extreme long distance KBDB 2018 and they also became 1st Int.Nat extreme long distance winner in the Gouden Duif competition. Who does better this year? Our compliments to fanciers who combine it all: family, pigeons and work. Finding a happy medium, the system which suits you and playing the flights that you prefer. These are all choices that must be made but it is all good here. One thing you can be sure of, however, the pigeons that put in a good showing are top flyers, have a strong pedigree with only ancestors that scored nationally or internationally in the past as well, which is exactly Dirk and Kristel's objective. Our compliments! Now it is time to introduce this top colony ...

HIGHLIGHTS 2018

1 NATIONAL CHAMPION EXTREME LONG DISTANCE OLD KBDB
1 INT.NAT EXTREME LONG DISTANCE GOUDEN DUIF COMPETITION
1 EURO DIAMOND PIGEON 5 YEARS RANKING
1 SUPER LONG DISTANCE OLD BRABANTSE UNIE
1 PROVINCIAL CHAMPION EXTREME LONG DISTANCE KBDB
2 NATIONAL ACE PIGEON BARCELONA 2017-2018
2 ACE PIGEON BRUGSE BARCELONA CLUB 2016-2018
2 PROVINCIAL ACE PIGEON EXTREME LONG DISTANCE KBDB
4 ACE PIGEON YEARLINGS INT.NAT FLIGHTS
4 BARCELONA MASTERS
5 INTERNATIONAL ACE PIGEON BARCELONA 2017-2018
5 NATIONAL ACE PIGEON NARBONNE 2017-2018
5 NATIONAL ACE PIGEON MARSEILLE 2017-2018

It all starts as a youngster, does it not ...?

I breed enough youngsters so that I can select what is good or not in hand myself. But the focus is mainly on yearlings and old birds so I do not check on the youngsters until Perpignan has passed. So they are usually trained after Perpignan after which the earliest youngsters fly the 2 x Noyon. The youngest youngsters do not do anything at all besides their training.

And then they become yearlings ...

After the season, they are all separated and the racing pigeons are allowed out once or twice a week week, only in case of bad weather they stay inside. They can fly as they like; it does not matter for how long as they are stretching their wings.

They continue this regime until late March/early April. Then they are allowed out every other day during the week (hens on Monday, cocks on Tuesday etc.). As from that moment, the flag is put up for about 15 minutes which I increase gradually. This year, for example, they have flown 25 minutes on April 9th, 60 minutes on April 26th, once a day.

In the racing loft, they have provided 48 bins and at the start they begin with 120 to 130 yearlings and old birds together on this loft. There are 3 small adjoining lofts the doors of which are open to make one big loft. There is no rest in these pens, the pigeons are always on the move and territory is very important. The bottom is covered with straw that stays until Perpignan to make it more comfy and facilitate cleaning.

From March 1st to May 1st they are obscured and everything is shut tight, day and night. So they are mated in the dark, only see natural light when they are training and get enough light when they come in to find the food.

On April 27th they were mated (one week later than in previous years). So, first those 48 couples are formed before the other surplus pigeons are added. The latter must make due if a pigeon stays behind here or there.

So the goal is to basket the pigeons after 10 to 14 days of incubation. So the 1st litter is aborted in function of their 1st flight in order for them to lay again. But this does not always work. This year my 1st pigeons on Perpignan had been breeding for barely 5 days.

About May 20th, the pace is stepped up to 2 trainings a day. This is 60 minutes in the morning and 60 minutes in the evening. Afterwards, 2 x 75 minutes until mid June and a bit later 2 x 90 minutes. By then, they are up in the air as early as 5:15 AM.

From June 21st, I start to give them extra light and maintain the light of the longest day until Perpignan. I also use the neon lights to allow night fliers to find their way home. This happened once again this year as one of the few in Belgium.

This makes me wonder, Dirk, don't nest pigeons usually fly badly?

The pigeons need rhythm, nest or no nest, whether they have flown extreme long distance or not. Here, they all go out the day after the flight, even the Barcelona pigeons, and they just join the flight. It is easy talking for me, of course, because through years of selection the pigeons that cannot keep up are simply excluded or stay behind.

Do you not ask a lot of your pigeons to train, fly and lay eggs so hard?

The pigeons here have a hard time in the season, indeed, therefore the basic level of fitness is very important to me. The pigeons are always in a certain condition, never get fat and in the season itself their condition improves systematically so these pigeons can do a little more than others.

But I also make sure that the recovery after the flight starts immediately after the pigeon clocks in: I take the rubber off and give them a recovery suppository immediately. It may be a small detail in the Christiaens regime, but it certainly is not unimportant. That is why the Barcelona pigeons are able to train with the group smoothly the next day.

What do you do with couples of which the hen or cock stays behind?

Since I play with both and the racing team is big enough, there are always surplus pigeons which allows them to go hunting for a new partner again. I certainly do not push them, only a good old hen I will mate faster with a male yearling to still be able to play on the nest position I desire. All these things one should try to keep an eye on but I manage.

When are the litters aborted again after the flight back?

I always play the pigeons as couples, both cock and hen go along the same weekend. Afterwards they come home and are allowed to continue breeding on their old eggs until Sunday evening, after which everything is taken away. On Sunday afternoon, they are given a bath but half of the pigeons does not take it. So I do not believe the rule that says that pigeons who haven't taken a bath fly badly.

Can you give us some flight schedules you prefer?

I mostly play 2 international flights per bird per year. Pau-Marseille, Agen-Narbonne, Barcelona-Perpignan, St. Vincent-Perpignan are the most common combinations.

But between the flights the pigeons will not remain idle either. The Pau pigeons, for example, are given a week of rest, after which they fly Chevrainvilliers (320 km). The following week we drive to Quiévrain ourselves on Saturday or Sunday morning and then they go are taken to the new flight again. This last training is especially important for the pigeons' confidence. The only ones I do not do this with, are the Barcelona pigeons. They can rest up to Perpignan.

Things are a bit different for the yearlings. There are those who are trained in their birth year, who fly 2 x Noyon, 2 x Chevrainvilliers, Blois and then go to Agen-Narbonne or Limoges-Angoulème. The pigeons that have not seen a big basket as a youngster first fly 2 x Noyon, 3 x Chevrainvilliers, Châteauroux, Chevrainvilliers and then they do 2x National flights.

So how do you select the yearlings?

I prefer them flying 1 of the 2 TOP 500 National flights, the youngest among them I select especially on the basis of their pedigree.

TOP 100 National 2018

  6 NAT Narbonne 3.017 yearlings
18 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old birds
19 NAT Narbonne 3.017 yearlings
20 NAT Pau 2.581 old birds
26 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old birds
36 NAT Marseille 2.336 old birds
38 NAT Marseille 2.336 old birds
42 NAT Agen 4.457 old birds
43 NAT Barcelona 7.438 old birds
44 NAT Barcelona 7.438 old birds
52 NAT Agen 4.078 yearlings
57 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old birds
59 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old birds
66 NAT Agen 4.457 old birds
70 NAT Pau 2.581 old birds
71 NAT Pau 2.581 old birds
81 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old birds
83 NAT Marseille 2.336 old birds
97 NAT Agen 4.457 old birds

Season 2018 Toppers

2009131/2017 Hilair Cock
    6 NAT Narbonne 3.017 yearlings ‘18
  15 I.NAT                6.423 yearlings
  52 NAT Agen        4.078 yearlings ‘18
171 I.NAT              11.572 yearlings

The perfect proof for keeping top pigeons in one's own colony, father and mother were 2 toppers and were mated producing another TOP 10 national winner.

Father 2006416/2011 Milon
2 Nat ACE pigeon Pau 2014-2015
Won 9 Nat Pau 1,910 p – 27 Nat Pau 1,980 p – 62 Nat Pau 1,661 p

Gr.F NL 1987492/2002 Grandson Laureaat Gysbelbrecht
Super breeder
Father of "865/12" Kristel 7 Nat St. Vincent 3,272 p
Son of "285/97" Vanderwegen x Gyselbrecht x "515/97" Daughter Laureaat Barcelona
Gr.M. NL 1642876/2010 Granddaughter Euro Diamond Brockamp
Daughter of "DV 273/08" Son Euro Diamond x "DV 819/07" ½ sister
Sisi 1 I.Nat Barcelona ' 07

Mother 2006324/2011 Sproet Perpignan
1 NAT Ace pigeon Barcelona-Perpignan 2015
2 NAT Ace pigeon Perpignan 2014-2015
6 NAT Ace pigeon extreme long distance KBDB old 2015
has Won ao 21 Nat Perpignan 5,254 p – 48 Wet Perpignan 6,248 p – 77 Nat Barcelona 7,791 p

Gr.F. NL 1063466/2009 Super Impac
Son of “NL 804/07” Mira Inbred Witbuik Batenburg – Van de Merwe
x “NL 944/05” Gerina ½ sister 3 Nat St.Vincent 6,670 p
Gr.M. NL 1862963/2002 Kleindochter Barcelona II Super breeding hen
Mother of “865/12” Kristel 7 Nat St.Vincent 3,272 p
Mother of “575/13” Stephanie 6 Nat Narbonne 2,802 p
Daughter of “NL 021/95” Witpen Ruffec 7 Nat Dax x “232/94” Cleopatra
Vanbruane Daughter Barcelona II 1 I.Nat Barcelona ’84

2165161/2014 Den 161 Chequered Cock
  70 NAT Pau            2.581 old ‘18
  83 NAT Marseille  2.336 old ‘18
  87 NAT Narbonne 3.366 yearlings ’15
147 NAT Narbonne 4.113 old ‘16
206 NAT Agen         3.648 old ’16

Father 1734255/2010 Son Cancellara
Super breeder – father of 9 x TOP 100 National
father of 20 Nat Valence, 30 Nat Barcelona , 30 Nat Agen, 43 Nat Barcelona, 48 Nat Narbonne, 57 Nat Narbonne, 70 Nat Pau, 83 Nat Marseille, 87 Nat Narbonne

Gr.F. 1871261/2007 Cancellara I.Roobol 26 Nat Perpignan and 114 Nat Tarbes
Son of “993/05” Ras Hagens x “018/05” Daughter Blauwe Barcelona
Gr.M. 1238140/2009 Gr.Daughter Baldato I.Roobol
Daughter of “565/07” ½ brother Mariska 1 I.Nat Perpignan 17,643 p x
x “536/08” Daughter Baldato Ace pigeon Nat Marseille ’05-’09

Mother 1329667/2004 De Graaf 667
Super breeding hen mother of 42 Nat Narbonne

Gr.F. 2189161/2002 De Graaf 161
Son of "237/99" Vechter J.V. Engelen (Vanbruane) x "637/98" The 637 H.K. Postma
Gr.M. 1862951/2002 Boah 100% Gyselbrecht
Daughter of "921/99" Daughter Turbo x "247/99" Daughter Senna

2009845/2017 Corry Blue white feather Hen
5 Nat Ace Pigeon Marseille ’17-‘18
    8 I.NAT Marseille 2.055 hens ’17
  45 NAT                     1.764 old
  77 I.NAT                   8.050 old
  15 I.NAT Marseille 2.130 hens ’18
  38 NAT                     2.336 old
  95 I.NAT                  9.387 old
  20 NAT Pau             2.581 old ’18
  31 I.NAT                  2.728 hens
227 I.NAT                11.714 old

Father 3038111/2008 Brother Nadal – Gr.Son Laureaat
Nadal 9 I.Nat Perpignan 17,624 p.

Gr.F. 4511933/1999 Sampras Laureaat
Son of “350/92” Laureaat 1 I.Nat Barcelona ’95 x “407/97” Nest sister Sampras
Gr.M. 3054028/2003 Bonte Florizoone
Daughter of “840/95” Barcelona Florizoone 1 Nat Barcelona 13,966 p ‘99
x “339/02” Daughter Ronaldo Etienne Devos

Mother NL 1213085/2011 Daughter Miss Gijsje Arjan Beens
Super breeding hen
Mother of 20 Nat Pau , 36 Nat Marseille, 38 Nat Marseille, 45 Nat Marseille, 66 Nat Agen

Gr.F. NL 2075830/2008 Mr.Beautiful Arjan Beens
33 NU Brive + 89 NU St.Vincent
Son of “780/08” Inbred Brive First Prize Pigeons x “760/06”
Daughter Mr.Moonlight old progenitor
Gr.M. NL 2075874/2008 Olympic Miss Gijsje Arjan Beens
Super racing hen won a.o. 6 Nat Brive 18,246 p – 7 Nat Montpellier
10,253 p – 7 Nat Cahors 11,054 p – 15 Nat Brive 12,332 p
Daughter of “542/04” Bergerac won 6 Nat Bergerac x “619/04” Rika won 1 NPO Perigeux ’07

2162880/2012 Hendrik Cock
2 Nat Ace Pigeon Barcelona ’17-‘18
5 I.Nat Ace Pigeon Barcelona ’17-‘18
  30 NAT Barcelona    7.874 old ‘17
  91 I.NAT                  17.026 old
  43 NAT Barcelona    7.438 old ‘18
112 I.NAT                  15.700 old
212 NAT Narbonne    3.942 yearlings ‘13
347 I.NAT                    7.859 yearlings
332 NAT Narbonne    4.047 old ‘15
332 NAT Montelimar 3.624 old ‘15

The Barcelona crack that for two years only had to tolerate Erik Limbourg's super star in front of him. Speaking of top notch, he has another 2 International winners on Barcelona and Perpignan.

Father 1734255/2010 Son Cancellara
Super breeder – father of 9 x TOP 100 National
Father of 20 Nat Valence, 30 Nat Barcelona , 30 Nat Agen, 43 Nat Barcelona, 48 Nat Narbonne, 57 Nat Narbonne, 70 Nat Pau, 83 Nat Marseille, 87 Nat Narbonne

Gr.F. 1871261/2007 Cancellara I.Roobol
26 Nat Perpignan and 114 Nat Tarbes
Son of “993/05” Ras Hagens x “018/05” Daughter Blauwe Barcelona
Gr.M. 1238140/2009 Gr.Daughter Baldato I.Roobol
Daughter of “565/07” ½ brother Mariska 1 I.Nat Perpignan 17,643 p x
x “536/08” Daughter Baldato Ace pigeon Nat Marseille ’05-’09

Mother 1353664/2003 Granddaughter Laureaat Barcelona Gyselbrecht

Gr.F 4432683/1997 Remi
Son of "350/92" Laureaat Barcelona I.Nat Barcelona x "317/89" Kleintje
Gr.M. 2220409/2000 Witbuikje
Daughter of "021/95" White feather Ruffec 7 Nat Dax 6,397 p x "991/91" Lenaerts Hen

2009896/2015 De 896 Blue white feather Hen
12 I.NAT Marseille 2.130 hens ‘18
36 NAT                    2.336 old
90 I.NAT                  9.387 old

Father 1226791/2011 Blue white feather Limburg

Gr.F. 4214130/2009 Son Octopussy Gebr.Limburg Top racer long distance
Son of “004/01” Octopussy 5 Nat Ruffec 3,285 p – 6 Nat Brive 2,903 p -
15 Nat Bergerac 2,898 p x “278/06” Daughter Super Van Geel
Gr.M. 4214126/2009 Sister Blue Spirit
Daughter of “34/07” Son Spirit 7 NPO Bordeaux 1.970d x “115/03”
Sister Bliksem – Kapitein – Nemo

Mother NL 1213085/2011 Daughter Miss Gijsje Arjan Beens
Super breeding hen
Mother of 20 Nat Pau, 36 Nat Marseille, 38 Nat Marseille, 45 Nat Marseille, 66 Nat Agen

Gr.F. NL 2075830/2008 Mr.Beautiful Arjan Beens 33 NU Brive + 89 NU St.Vincent
Son of “780/08” Inbred Brive First Prize Pigeons x “760/06”
Daughter Mr.Moonlight old progenitor
Gr.M. NL 2075874/2008 Olympic Miss Gijsje Arjan Beens
Super racing hen won a.o. 6 Nat Brive 18,246 p – 7 Nat Montpellier
10,253 p – 7 Nat Cahors 11,054 p – 15 Nat Brive 12,332 p
Daughter of “542/04” Bergerac won 6 Nat Bergerac x “619/04” Rika won 1 NPO Perigeux ’07

2009878/2015 Miss Barcelona 878 Blue Hen
  43 I.NAT Barcelona 4.820 hens ‘18
  44 NAT                      7.438 old
114 I.NAT                  15.700 old

Father 1063466/2009 Super Impac Mevlut Tekin
Super breeder
Father of “Sproet Perpignan”
1 NAT Ace pigeon Barcelona - Perpignan 2015
2 NAT Ace pigeon Perpignan 2014-2015
6 NAT Ace pigeon Extreme long distance KBDB old 2015
Won a.o. 21 Nat Perpignan 5,254 p – 48 Nat Perpignan 6,248 p – 77 Nat Barcelona 7,791 p
Grandfather of 2009131/2017 Hilair Cock
6 NAT Narbonne 3,017 yearlings ‘18
15 I.NAT 6,423 yearlings
52 NAT Agen 4,078 yearlings ‘18
171 I.NAT 11,572 yearlings

Gr.F. 1925804/2007 Mira Mevlut Tekin
Son of “091/04” Grandson Witbuik x “025/04” Granddaughter Witbuik
Gr.M. 1254944/2005 Gerina Mevlut Tekin
Daughter of “136/93” Jacob top breeder is father of 3 Nat St.Vincent
6,670 p x “837/03” Granddaughter Ruffec Batenburg Van de Merwe

Mother 6338428/2010 Blue Natural
Top breeder
Mother of 4 Nat Barcelona ’16 + Zilveren Vleugel ‘16

Gr.F. 6029189/2005 Blue Inbred Vanbruane
Son of “308/03” Blue Vanbruane x “309/03” Chequered Vanbruane
Gr.M. 6005554/2005 Schalie Vanbruane
Daughter of “968/03” Schalie Vanbruane x “885/03” Schalie Vanbruane

2007397/2016 Nightflyer Cock
18 NAT Narbonne 3.506 old ‘18
71 I.NAT                 9.154 old

Father 2319083/2015 Louis 083 (Louis Van den Eynde)

Gr.F. 2139090/2009 Le Chateau
Brother 2 Nat ACE pigeon EMD KBDB ‘08
Son of “864/04” Son Perpignan Marcel Aelbrecht x “172/02”
Daughter Swing
Gr.M. 2213380/2009 Daughter Blauwe Bliksem Deno – Herbots
Daughter of “886/02” Blauwe Bliksem G Vandenabeele Super Breeder
x “977/04” Mother Nadia 1 Olympic pigeon ’09

Mother 2165144/2014 Granddaughter New Laureaat

Gr.F. 2197489/2012 Son New Laureaat Luc Wiels
Son of “675/08” New Laureaat 1 I.Nat Barcelona 25,382 p + 8 Nat
Barcelona x “664/03” Granddaughter Laureaat Van Engelen
Gr.M. 4235756/2007 Granddaughter Beloki Gyselbrecht
Daughter of “980/05” Son Il Briganti x “643/05” Daughter Beloki

Guidance

All the racing pigeons are given a full trey of food day and night. From 300 km onwards, I use 50% Superdieet and 50% All-in One. The pigeons that go to a race are given a bowl beside the dish with 100% All-in One with peanuts as much as they want.

Regularly, linseed oil with Brewer's yeast or vitamineral is mixed over the feed. Immediately after homecoming, I add tea to the drinking water for 3 days that I partly purchase as it is and that is partly a mix of my own (thyme, lavender, sage, rosemary, chamomile, nettle and Lamium). After these 3 days the pigeons are administered yellow drops through the water for 1 day. The pigeons that are taken to the flight are administered a yellow suppository seperately just before basketing.

During the season, no cures are administered. Early May, I give them a tricho pill and treat them against ornithosis and that is it.

In spring (late March) they are given their vaccination against paramyxo and in december I treat and vaccinate them against paratyphus but each time with a different product.

Best results 2018

Pau National 2,581 old: 20,70,71,… 4/6
Agen national 4,457 old: 42, 66, 97, 107, 136, 150, 176, 221, 287, 297, 303, 351, ... 17/28
Agen National 4,078 yearlings: 52, 106, 123, 221, 231, 244, 265, 307, ... 10/29
Agen I.Nat 4,563 hens: 38, 42, 50, 56, 74, 95, 99, 119, 162, 222, 279, 293, 409, ... 19/27
Barcelona Nat 7,438 old: 43, 44, 272, 524, 670, ... 7/14
Barcelona I.Nat 15,700 old: 112, 114, 683, 1345, .... 7/14
Marseilles Br.Unie 391 old: 1, 2, 10, ... 4/6
Marseille National 2,336 old 36, 38, 83, ... 4/6
Marseille I.Nat 2,130 hens: 12, 15 2/3
Narbonne National 3,017 yearlings: 6, 19, 168, ... 7/16
Narbonne National 3,506 old birds: 18, 26, 57, 59, 81, 116, 118, 160, 221, ... 12/26
Narbonne I.Nat 4,058 hens: 32, 71, 85, 86, 109, 136, 168, ... 13/21

Dirk and Kristel, the entire HERBOTS TEAM congratulates you on these fantastic results.

Buelens Kim