Erwin Geraerts – Van Lande from Wijer win 4 x 1st Provincial in 2023

A colony that regularly stood out in the 2023 season was the colony of Erwin Geraerts – Van Lande from Wijer in Limburg. They won a total of 4 x 1st Provincial in the shorter and longer middle distance and also achieved several top results at national level. The colony is not that big, but very strong. Several victories were also won in the Central Limburg ensemble.

Because Erwin is always working during the day, Erwin's wife takes care of the daily tasks. Without her help it would be a lot less, because without investing time and energy it won't work. Only in the summer can I see the pigeons training when the weather is nice.

Topresults 2023

1 Prov Lorris 3.039 yearlings
1 Prov Gien 2.878 yearlings
1 Prov Vierzon 1.290 yearlings
1 Prov Gien 1.250 old birds
4 NAT Bourges 12.094 yearlings
4 NAT Libourne 3.880 old birds
5 NAT Bourges 7.270 old birds
18 NAT Souillac 4.827 old birds
51 NAT Limoges 7.211 old birds
92 NAT Libourne 3.880 old birds

Classic widowhood

The racing team here consists of 27 widowers divided into 3 lofts and 32 hens ( 2 hens with 1 cock ) which are all raced in classic widowhood. In the autumn the racing pigeons stay in the lofts of the youngsters in beautiful spacious aviaries. The widowers come to the lofts around the beginning of December and raise a round of youngsters there. The hens do this one month later, but are only coupled in 2 groups with their cock and may stay together for 5 to 8 days, but they do not brood. In the spring, the old and yearlings are not darkened because the lofts are already quite dark and as a result forme arrives too late in the lofts.The racing pigeons usually fly on widowhood until mid-August and then the belt is taken off, no more nests are made. The season has been tough enough to put an extra strain on them and let them molt even later.The racing pigeons always train once a day in the morning all season long. They trained really well this season and still are. They do this without any flag or obligation.Just like last year, the pigeons here also had to deal with an outbreak of bird flu, which meant that not much could be played. Because of this they only raced Sens and Gien as a provincial race, but my best yearlings come from that group and still show them very well.During the day the hens stay in their resting loft (inner aviary), which is equipped with small boxes, sifting on the floor and a windbreak mesh at the front of the loft. The ceiling is completely open above them for plenty of oxygen. 

How do you motivate the racing team?

This is easy with the widowers, I give them the dish for 15 to 20 minutes and that's it. When they return home, their hen is half ready and they can join them immediately on the shorter races, but when it is further I let them recover from the efforts made and they can join them a little later.It is slightly different with the hens, so they have 2 hens for 1 cock and come home and enter the breeding lofts. Here the cocks are locked up in the middle part of the living box and the hens can sit next to their cocks on both sides. When the race is over and most of them are home, the hens go to the resting loft where they get food and drink. If they have done well, they can alternate with their cock. In the beginning this is also short, but in the provincial or national races they still stay together for 2 to 3 hours. When basketing, their partners are allowed to see, but jealousy is played on. 

Accompaniment

The mixtures used here are always Versele – Laga. In the beginning of the week this is mainly Gerry Plus and they are raised with Sport Subliem and Champion. The last 2 or 3 days, depending on how heavy it will be, then Energy mixture is added to the food bowl. The pigeons that are basketted for 2 or 3 nights go into the basket with a good crop anyway. The last day the pigeons get extra peanuts and sweets as a last extra.

When they return home, the pigeons always receive Belgasol and B.S. from Belgica – De Weerd on Saturday and Sunday together with Sedochol. During the week, Zell Oxygen and Optimix are regularly added to the feed.

For the medical story, Erwin always checks Karlo Van Rompaey, the pigeons are treated against tricho once a month for 2 to 3 days. They have had a cure for the airways before the racing season, but during the season itself Erwin tries to avoid it as much as possible.

BE 22-5064694 Blue Hen

1 Prov Vierzon             1.290p
4 S.Prov. Laon             1.130p
8 S.Prov. Melun           1.029p
13 Prov Auxerre         2.130p
32 Prov Nevers              816p
32 Prov Lorris             3.039p
56 Prov Nevers           1.525p

Father BE 19-5077686 Blue 
Co breeding Geraerts x Daan Rego

Mother BE 16-2312230 Witkop
Co breeding “Strain Jos 1 Nat Bourges 9.896p” Karlo Van Rompaey x Geraerts 

BE 22-5064668 Checkered Cock 

  1 Prov Lorris               3.039p
  5 S.Prov. Sens               953p
  5 Prov Nevers               816p
  9 S.Prov.Melun          1.029p
21 Prov Gien                2.878p
40 S.Prov.Laon            1.130p
49 Prov Lorris              3.456p
71 Prov Vierzon          1.290p

Father BE 16-2279795 Blue
Grandson “Jos” 1 Nat Bourges 9.896p Karlo Van Rompaey

Mother BE 16-5013817 Blue
Daughter “Hattrick” 1 Nat Bourges 14.449p ( fastest from 60.059p ) Karlo Van Rompaey

BE 21-5020218 Blue Hen

    1 Prov Gien             1.250p
  23 Prov Nevers            867p
  30 Prov Vierzon        3.024p
  65 Melun                    1.556p
147 Prov Lorris           5.039p

Father BE 17-5013859 Blue 
Son “Hattrick” 1 Nat Bourges 14.449p ( fastest from 60.059p ) Karlo Van Rompaey

Mother BE 16-5013817 Blue
Daughter “Hattrick” 1 Nat Bourges 14.449p ( fastest from 60.059p ) Karlo Van Rompaey

BE 22-5064636 Blue witkop Hen

  1 Prov Gien               2.878p
  3 Prov Vierzon         4.342p
  3 Prov Auxerre         2.130p ( 1-754p )
  4 S.Prov.Melun         2.604p
  5 S.Prov. Laon          1.130p
23 Prov Lorris             3.039p
23 Prov Nevers              826p
29 Prov Orléans         2.677p
45 Prov Nevers           1.525p
52 S.Prov. Sens              953p
93 Prov Lorris             3.456p

Father BE 19-5073070 Daan Rego

Mother BE 20-5002349 
Granddaughter “Jos” 1 Nat Bourges 9.896p Karlo Van Rompaey

Best pigeon on the long distance races in 2023

BE 21-5020244 Blue Hen

 3 Nat (z) Limoges    1.763p
  4 NAT Libourne       3.880p
51 NAT Limoges       7.211p

Father GB 18F47373 Blue witkop – 100% Geerinckx
Grandson “Wittekop Sylvester” x “Xena” 2 Nat Argenton 5.034p
Grandson “Luc” 1 Nat Argenton 12.446p
Grandson “Just Wait” 1 Nat Argenton 13.363p

Mother BE 16-2312242 Daughter Hattrick - Karlo Van Rompaey
Daughter from “151/14” Hattrick 1 Nat Bourges 14.449p ( fastest 60.059p ) x “778/15” Daughter Prima Dora 1 Nat Bourges 18.864p and granddaughter “Jos” 1 Nat Bourges 9.896p

Erwin, congratulations on these great results from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.

Buelens Kim