Herbots Kobe & Kato (BE)

Velm in the province of Limburg, home of Kobe & Kato Herbots along with their dad Raf Herbots. They have been playing youngsters since 2013 with the aim to shine from the beginning to the end of the season. They fly many miles in just a few months, and together they are looking for the modern pigeon that can handle this in combination with top performances. So: not a pigeon that performs a top result only once, but a regular pigeon that can fly ahead repeatedly, which they have proven with several ACE pigeons over the past few years. They only play with youngsters and when the season is over, the best pigeon is matched to "F 16" Super breeder at Van Oeckel Bart & Nance's and the children are fitted into the breeding loft a year later. That is what they have been doing for several years, giving them their own breeding loft with nothing but children from the best pigeons or pigeons they have purchased from the best colonies.

The past few years "Super One", "Super Two" and "The Ace" were matched to F 16, and the last "Super Three" was coupled to a son of "F 16" x "Miss Grizzle". These are now being fitted into the breeding loft for the coming winter of 2019. The ACE pigeons themselves are then sold after this breeding season.

2018 was a great year as well, with 1st Provincial Fays Au Loges against 2,340 youngsters, 1st national Bourges youth 540 youngsters and several first prizes of 100 – 500 km. Once again proof that good pigeons pass on their genes to this breeding. That the extremely hot conditions and the unfavorable location did not make it easy this year to obtain 1st prizes, once again proves the iron character and strong sense of orientation of these pigeons to fly alone and be the fastest to find their way home.

Highlights 2013-2018

1 Prov Fays Au Loges 2,340 youngsters 2018
1 Nat Bourges youth 1,026 youngsters 2015
1 Nat Bourges youth 540 youngsters 2018
Nat Bourges youth 785 youngsters 2014
1 Prov Chateauroux 1,482 youngsters 2017 'Super Three'
1 Prov ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters KBDB Limburg 2017 'Super Three'
1 Nat ACE pigeon Ace of Aces youngsters LCB 2017 'Super Three'
2 Nat Bourges youth 1,026 youngsters 2015
3 NAT Argenton 11,215 youngsters 2015 'Super Two'
4 Nat ACE pigeon Ace of Aces youngsters LCB 2013 'Super One'
4 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2014 (6 flights) 'The Ace'
6 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2015 (5 flights) 'Super Two'
6 Nat Bourges 36,307 youngsters 2015
8 Nat Bourges 36,307 youngsters 2015
11 Nat Bourges 30,180 youngsters 2014
15 Nat Bourges 23,854 youngsters 2018

It all starts with the breeding loft

There is only room for 12 couples, so the selection is extremely strict. We present a few top pigeons that have already made their mark

"BE 12-6032661" For Dries (Direct Ulrich Lemmens) Cock
(Inbred Kannibaal Dirk Van Dijck)
Father of 1 Nat Bourges youth '14 (11 Nat 30,180 p)
Father of "001/17" 4 Soissons 1,161 p – 29 I.Prov Chateauroux 676p
Father of "302/18" 1 Momignies 356p

"BE 12-6130788" Drieske (direct Bart & Nance Van Oeckel) Cock
(Grandson Gaston Jr)
Father of "123/15" 3 I. Prov ACE pigeon heavy middle distance
Father of 2015 "216/16" 35 Prov Sezanne 4,316 p – 33 I.Prov Argenton 913 p
Father of 16 ACE pigeon Black Sea One Loft Race 2017
Father of "403/18" 62 Prov Chevrainvilliers 2,298 p – 43 I.Prov Argenton 915 p – 51 I.Prov Chateauroux 983 p.

"BE 16-6056638" F 16 Grizzle (Direct Bart & Nance Van Oeckel) Cock
(Son of "F16" x "Miss Grizzle")
Father of "906/17" 3 I.Prov Chateauroux 676 p (49 Nat 12,125 p) – 60 I.Prov Bourges 2,515 p
Father of "406/18" 6 Noyon 3,004 p – 11 Toury 1,017 p – 7 Chateauroux 490 p
Father of "415/18" 17 I.Prov Argenton 915 p – 63 I.Prov Chateauroux 3,206 p
Gr. father of "416/18" 5 Noyon 376 p – 15 Noyon 3,004 p – 27 Toury 1,017 p
Gr. father of "419/18" 4 Toury 217 p – 17 Toury 1,017 p – 27 Argenton 915 p - 33 Chateauroux 3,206 p – 35 Orléans 840 p – 54 Chevrainvilliers 1,732 p

"BE 15-6288014" Crazy Bart (Direct Bart & Nance Van Oeckel) Cock
(Son of "Crazy Boy" x "Daughter F 16" x Super One K & K Herbots)
Father of "414/18" 30 Noyon 1,896 p – 81 Noyon 3,004 p

"BE 17-1126541" Denis (Direct Denis Sapin) Cock
Brother "Icha" 1 Olympiad bird Cat. G Brussels 2017
Father of "424/18" 5 Orléans 840 p – 25 Toury 1,017 p – 36 Chateauroux 3,206 d
Father of "324/18" 4 I.Prov ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2018
Father of "323/18" 119 Nat Bourges 23,854 p
Father of "373/18" 5 I.Prov Chateauroux 538 p (201 Nat 12,855 p.) – 26 I.Prov Chateauroux 776 p

"BE 16-2146542" Blue white feather Cock
Son "Erwin" 6 Nat Bourges 36,307 p K & K Herbots x "Daughter F 16 x Super One"
Father of "362/18" 1 Momignies 117 p – 6 Momignies 120 p

"BE 16-2289420" Rik Kaasboer (direct Yves Vandepoel) Hen
Grandson Kaasboer – Son Super breeder "Kaasboer Express"
Father of "417/18" 4 Prov Chateauroux 2,574 p (87 Nat 12,855 p)
Father of "317/18" 3 Sourdun 156 p – 6 Laon 211 p – 15 Laon 615 p – 48 I.Prov Chateauroux 776 p – 41 Sourdun 929 p

"BE 16-6056572" Fokki Tina (Direct Bart & Nance Van Oeckel) Hen
(Granddaughter F 16)
Mother of "001/17" 4 Soissons 1,161 p – 29 I.Prov Chateauroux 676 p
Mother of "302/18" 1 Momignies 356 p

"BE 13-5025714" Black Buvie (Direct Buvens Roger) Hen
Daughter Golden strain couple
Mother of "406/18" 6 Noyon 3,004 p – 11 Toury 1,017 p – 7 Chateauroux 490 p
Mother of "415/18" 17 I.Prov Argenton 915 p – 63 I.Prov Chateauroux 3,206 p
Gr. mother of "419/18" 4 Toury 217 p – 17 Toury 1,017 p – 27 Argenton 915 p - 33 Chateauroux 3,206 p – 35 Orléans 840 p – 54 Chevrainvilliers 1,732 p

"BE 15-6059309" Ace F 16 (Co-bred Van Oeckel x Herbots) Hen
Daughter of "F16" x "The Ace" 4 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2014 (6 flights)
Mother of "416/18" 5 Noyon 376 p – 15 Noyon 3,004 p – 27 Toury 1,017 p

"BE 16-2010452" White Head Hen
Daughter "Super Two" 6 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2015 (5 flights)
Mother of "417/18" 4 Prov Chateauroux 2,574 p (87 Nat 12,855 p)
Mother of "317/18" 3 Sourdun 156 p – 6 Laon 211 p – 15 Laon 615 p – 48 I.Prov Chateauroux 776 p – 41 Sourdun 929 p

"BE 14-2199514" Super F 16 (Co-bred Van Oeckel x Herbots) Hen
Daughter of "F16" x "Super One" 4 Nat ACE pigeon Ace of Aces youngsters LCB 2013
Mother of "419/18" 4 Toury 217 p – 17 Toury 1,017 p – 27 Argenton 915 p - 33 Chateauroux 3,206 p – 35 Orléans 840 – 54 Chevrainvilliers 1,732 p

"BE 14-6049653" Dolce Mama (Direct Bart & Nance Van Oeckel) Hen
Sister "Dolce Diamant" 6 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance (5 flights) 2014
Mother of "323/18" 119 Nat Bourges 23,854 p
Mother of "324/18" 4 I.Prov ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters 2018
Mother of "424/18" 5 Orléans 840 p – 25 Toury 1,017 p – 36 Chateauroux 3,206 p
Mother of "373/18" 5 I.Prov Chateauroux 538 p (201 Nat 12,855 p) – 26 I.Prov Chateauroux 776 p

"BE 16-2049252" Jespie (direct Jespers Vanderwegen) Hen
Sister 9 Nat ACE pigeon heavy middle distance youngsters
Mother of "362/18" 1 Momignies 117 p – 6 Momignies 120 p

Youngsters need a good start

The young pigeons are weaned in the same period as much as possible. This is easier to have the group of the same age train and to vaccinate all of them together.

That way they also start to fly equally fast and it is easier to have them fly in group. Once they achieve a training of over 45 minutes, we get the training baskets and start training them on short distances. What's learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb and each time the pigeons have to beat us home before we move to a longer distance. We start at 3-4 km and increase this by 5 km each time. This means I do a lot of extra training flights with the youngsters. By Bourges II, they have been basketed at least 30 times.

During the season itself, they train once a day mandatorily and I start training them hard upto 14 days before Bourges. From then onwards, I switch gear a little and they have to train twice a day for 1 hour at home. By then, they will have the necessary condition to bring a heavy flight to a good end and to make an excellent recovery.

During the preparation, it is especially important that they make the first flights home easily. That is why they fly 100 km, 150 km, 200 km several times before moving on to 300 km and more. This year, the extremely hot temperatures made it very tough, but they passed with flying colors. Then they fly Bourges and Chateauroux one after the other, after which they get one week of rest. After that they flew Argenton, Momignies and Chateauroux.

Are they obscured and/or given more light?

They are obscured from mid April to the end of June. One week later I start giving them more light upto 11:00 pm and from 5:00 am. I keep doing that until the last flight. When we have been giving them more light for one week, I separate the sexes. Usually this is about 2-3 weeks before Bourges. I try to leave them together as long as possible so that many couples are formed by the time we start using the sliding door method.

What about motivation?

From 14 days before Bourges they are on sliding door. They come together between 11 am and 3 pm on the day of basketing. Then the motivation boxes and corners are opened so they can hide. Then they are separated again so they can eat well one last time between 4 pm and 4:30 pm. Coming home, they always stay together until the following day. So we allow the pigeons to find their favorite spot in the loft themselves in order for them to self-motivate!

Guidance

It is veterinarian Raf himself who examines the pigeons regularly and checks whether their basic condition is good in particular. The rest, the pigeons have to prove themselves on the go. They are supported by the products of the HERBOVET range and get everything they need. For food we use the Galaxy Light mixes from Beyers.

For the inoculations I treat them twice against herpes and twice with Colombovac Pox (I inject them once and treat them with the brush against smallpox once). I also treat them against paratyphus before the racing season starts.

Results 2018

Momignies (110km) 277 youngsters: 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, ...
Momignies (110 km) 356 youngsters: 1, 3, 11, 14, 15, 16, 25, 27, 28, 30, ...
Momignies (110km) 117 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, ...
Momignies (110km) 175 youngsters: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ...
Momignies (110 km) 111 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, ...
Laon (164 km) 615 youngsters: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, ... 33/73
Soissons (195 km) 366 youngsters: 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24, 34, ... 33/70
Fays Au Loges (386km) Provincial 2,340 youngsters: 1,11,18, ...
Sourdun (280km) 102 youngsters: 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, ...
Sourdun (280km) 156 youngsters: 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12,14,15,16, ...
Bourges (455km) National 23,854 youngsters: 15, 119, 649, 914, 1133, 1242, 1361, 1585, 1730, 1943, 2149, 2356, ...
Chateauroux (507km) Provincial 1,090 youngsters: 12, 34, 61, 83, 100, ...

Results 2017

Soissons (195 km) 1,161 youngsters: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 14, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, ... 42/88
Soissons (195 km) 105 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ...
Soissons (195 km) 1,232 youngsters: 4, 6, 7, 21, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, ... 61/87
Nanteuil (250 km) 1,257 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 24, ... 57/87
Sezanne 390 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, ...
Orléans (385 km) 179 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, ... 33/79
Momignies (110 km) 369 youngsters: 1, 2, 3, 10, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, ...
Momignies (110 km) 216 youngsters: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, ...
Momignies (110 km) 153 youngsters: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, ...
Bourges (450 km) 356 youngsters: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 24, 26, ...
Bourges Nat 1,249 youngsters (youth): 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 34, 52, 53, ....
Bourges I.Prov 2,515 youngsters: 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 46, 60, 63, ...
Chateauroux (507 km) 174 youngsters: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, ...
Chateauroux I.Prov 980 youngsters: 1, 3, 8, 11, 12, 18, 20, 23, 24, 27, 35, 36, 37, 40, ...
Argenton (540km) I.Prov 393 youngsters: 1, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 34, ...
Chateauroux (507km) 216 young: 1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 21, ...
Chateauroux I.Prov 676 young: 3, 8, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 29, 42, 43, 46, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59, ... 25/54

Buelens Kim