Hok Demely (Moorsele) "Bright future plans with topper Mr Unique"

During one of the rainy winter days, we have an appointment with David Vanneste. This name may not mean much to you but when we pronounce the name "Hok Demely Liliane", many readers' proverbial euro will drop. As a tribute to the caring role that mum Liliane takes care of both in the pigeon loft and in the household, the loft is named after her. However, loft Liliane Demely is a collaboration between Liliane, her husband Filip, their son David and his son, in other words three generations of pigeon racing united in one yard.
Hok Demely has been a fixture in our Belgian pigeon sport for decades. The Demely pigeons are largely composed of the Reynaert Antoon and Hilde pigeons and then we are talking about the well-known breeding lines of "De Figo" and "De Goen". A base you can count on, a base that has 1st prize winning in its DNA. Combine this with the passion of the aforementioned team members and "fireworks" are guaranteed.
Passionate and full of fire, David talks about the care, tribe building and exploits of their colony. Just as he - self-employed carpenter - delivers top quality in his work, he also wants to pursue his hobby. It is not quantity that counts but quality. Thus, he is invariably looking for top quality and seeks out strong colonies to strengthen. In Moorsele, they don't just want top prizes, no, they want first prizes, pointeurs they must have. And they certainly have these.

"How was the 2023 season for you?"

David: "We finished the season with 30 wins, including 1 provincial. When the wind blew in our favour we managed to rank several pigeons in the Top-100 nationally on several occasions. More than satisfied, only the loss of 2 very good pigeons still weighs heavily on our minds. On Argenton national we lost a widower which had already ranked 3 times in the national ace KBDB pigeons and a week later we lost another topper. The panic hit us in the stomach and together we decided to put 2 other toppers directly in the breeding loft. The fear of losing these too was too great.

What about for the 2024 season?

For the upcoming season, we have 24 racing hens (5 old and 19 yearlings) and 30 widowers (9 old and 21 yearlings) ready to go. To fry the yearling cocks, we have our own method. After the season, the old cocks go to the aviary. Their box on the widower loft is closed and the future yearling cocks can choose a free-standing box. Once in mid-December, the yearling cocks go to the aviary, their box is closed and the old ones return to the loft. They are paired and allowed to raise a nest. Once in March, when the old have finished breeding, the yearlings return to the loft and then it's up to us to play referee for a few days to separate any brawlers.  The yearlings and old ones get their hens during their first training flights for about 4 days and once they get the "game" the widowhood is a fact.

And the racing hens, how are they prepared?

The racing hens do not breed for the season. They spend the entire winter period in the aviary where, once they have finished moulting, they are given a low-protein mixture (Casaert - Van Robaeys). Sometimes tea disappears in the drinking pot and our dad likes to purify the pigeons with a buttermilk cure. Once in early March, they return to the loft and are allowed to train again for the first time. After a few days they are coupled and allowed to breed for a few days. Afterwards, the ladies are on widowhood and are released weekly. Depending on the weather and the heaviness of the previous race, they fly a heavy middle distance or a speed race. Normally it is 2 x heavy middle distance after each other and then a speed race, but again...the weather can cause changes here.

And the youngsters?

First of all, let us make it clear that yearling and old pigeon racing takes precedence. Beware, this does not mean that we are not committed to the young pigeon game. Our dad used to be a real youngsters specialist, so "letting us do it" is not in his dictionary. 
The youngsters have been living in an aviary for a few years now. This aviary is 6 metres deep and contains boxes like on a normal loft. Especially in hot weather, an aviary is not a disadvantage for those youngsters.

And what in terms of medical supervision and care?

Before the start of the season, we sit down once in the waiting room of the specialised vet. His advice is followed. If there is something, it is treated, if everything is OK then the medicine cabinet stays shut tight. All pigeons get the obligatory paramyxo vaccination and the youngsters are also vaccinated against Rota twice. During the season, we go to the vet for a monthly check-up. Again, his advice is followed. The well-known yellow drops are given against tricho. In terms of feed, there are few secrets to discover here. We work with the Aida and Van Robaeys mixtures. We have followed the same feeding pattern for years, i.e. low protein at the beginning of the week and the last 4 to 6 feeds with a sport and energy mixture. We give by-products with regularity and these come from Herbots Animal Products and Herbovet. I am on the road every day from 6 a.m. for work, so a big thank you to my parents for taking such good care of our pigeons because without them there would be little or no pigeon racing.

With "Mr Unique", you have one of the best long-distance pigeons in Belgium under your belt. May we ask if you have a special breeding strategy to capture his exceptional class?"

Yes...with the breeding and playing of "Mr. Unique", a "pigeon fancier's dream" has really come true. "Mr. Unique" (B16-3039664) won 1st National Limoges 7,274d. (fastest of 14,510d.) and 2nd National Brive 9,278d. (2nd fastest of 13,662d.). Despite many nice bids, "Mr Unique" stayed in Moorsele and we paired him against as many good hens as possible. Meanwhile, we have already bred 8 different 1st prize winners from him. 

But also the grandchildren of "Mr. Unique" love to fly in the top of the result. One of his grandchildren is "Miss Bond" (B20-3108007). She became 26th National ace KBDB Fond 2023 with results such as 12th Nat. Bergerac, 17th Nat. Libourne and 71st Nat. Cahors she can be proud. There are only 2 fanciers in Belgium who have a child of "Mr Unique" and among them is Herbots Jo. With him too, the grandchildren performed fantastically and won: 1st Prov. Vierzon 2,752d. - 3rd Lorris 584d. - 3rd Soissons 283d. - 3rd Orleans 151d. - 8th Chateauroux 1.051d. - 3rd Issoudun 911d. - 9th S-Nat Bourges 2,034d. - 10th S-Nat Chateauroux 783d. Remarkably, the cross with the line of "Mr. Gueret" (must say uncle on Mr. Unique) in particular is doing very well. 

We are very hopeful that "Mr. Unique" will become our new base breeder. 

Top-20 rankings season 2023

1 Intprov. Montoire 4.015d
1 Prov. Montoire 2.804d
2 Prov. Fontenay 1.128d
3 Prov. Fontenay 1.790d
3 Prov. Orleans 13.159d
3 Prov. Orleans 5.857d
3 Prov. Bergerac 809d
4 Prov. Montoire 494d
6 Prov. Argenton 2.704d
7 Prov. Argenton 2.704d
7 Prov. Tours 3.380d
8 Prov. Fontenay 1.432d
8 Prov. Fontenay 759d
9 Prov. Orleans 1.002d
10 Prov. Tours 5.554d
10 Prov. Fontenay 849d
11 Prov. Fontenay 1.128d
12 Prov. Fontenay 2.290d
12 Prov. Fontenay 1.432d
13 Prov. Fontenay 1.650d
13 Prov. Fontenay 1.285d
14 Prov. Montoire 2.804d
14 Prov. Fontenay 1.790d
15 Prov. Orleans 5.857d
15 Prov. Montoire 4.105d
15 Prov. Montoire 2.804d
15 Prov. Chateaudun 1.694d
16 Prov. Montoire 4.105d
16 Prov. Argenton 2.704d
17 Prov. Fontenay 2.602d
17 Prov. Fontenay 2.290d
18 Prov. Orleans 5.857d
18 Prov. Chateaudun 4.007d
19 Prov. Fontenay 849d

Some top results 2023

30/04   Clermont                652 p   1-6-7-15-16-21,…     (31/44)

              Clermont                330 p   2-3-7-8-11-18,…..      (15/19)

13/05   Orleans                   461 p   1-3-4-5-7-10-14 ,….   (34/45)

              Orleans                   223 p   1-2-3-6-9-10-16,….    (17/22)

              Prov.                       13159 p   3-21-28-31-67-96,….     (28/45)

              Prov. z.                     5857 p   3-15-18,…      (15/22)

20/05   Chateaudun           262 p   1-2-4-7-10-13-16-17-19-20,….   (21/26)

              Chateaudun           119 p   1-2-5-8-9-10-11-13 ,….   (15/19)

              Prov.                        7278 p 20-29-38,….   (20/26)

              Chateauroux         612 p  14-28  (2/2)

27/05   Fontenay                181 p   1-2-3-5-7-8-12-14-15-17-18,….    (23/28)

              Fontenay                131 p   1-2-3-5-7-8-11-12-13-14-17-18,….  (20/24)

              Prov.                       1432 p 8-12-21-27-49-82,….   (14/24)

03/06   Chateaudun           223 p   1-3-8-12-17-20,….    (8/9)

              Chateaudun           130 p   1-3-7-10-14-15,…..   (8/9)

              Limoges                  536 p   7-127 (2/2)

09/06   Argenton                492 p   2-3-4-5-10-11-13,….  (14/25) 

17/06   Cahors                    203 p    7 (1/1)

              Tours                      818 p    2-22-30 (3/4)

24/06   Fontenay                165 p   1-2-10-15 (4/4)

              Fontenay                250 p   2-4-16-23,…. (5/7)

              Argenton               296 p    1-5-13-16,….  (5/9)

02/07   Fontenay                185 p   1-2-4-18,….    (9/9)

              Chateauroux         261 p  3 (1/1)

              Chateauroux         427 p  3-9-18-33-53  (5/5)

08/07   Bergerac                167 p    1-35  (2/2)

22/07   Orleans                   250 p   7-9-16-18-19,….  (10/10)

              Chateauroux         132 p  1-2-3-4,….  (5/7)

25/07   Orleans                   256 p   1-3-5-10-16-20,…. (12/19)

30/07   Souillac                   172 p   9-13  (2/2)

07/08   Tulle                        234 p   (1/2)

12/08  Chateaudun            211 p   3-4-6-7-8-9-11-12-13-14-18-19-20,…. (29/39)

02/09  Montoire                 521 p   1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-13-14-16-17,…..     (32/54)

             Prov.                        4105 p  1-14-15-22-26-43-73-84-,…..

12e Nat  Bergerac 3838d.   (2/2)

42-53-63-81 Nat Argenton  17.210d. 

71e Nat Cahors   (1/1)

29-32-73 Nat Argenton 14.174d.

Stefan Mertens