Vereecke Esther (Beerzel): 1st National Argenton 11,259 old birds

"Miss Hastings"
B21-6042594

1st National Argenton 11,259 old birds

Distance: 545km

Velocity: 1280.41 m/m

The forme fairy is clearly present in the lofts of Esther Vereecke from Beerzel. After winning 1st prize Vierzon against 3,301 yearling birds (also the fastest of 9,730 birds) on the 1st Interprovincial race of the 2023 season, it was bingo again. Last weekend the main bird was shot from Argenton. National against 11,259 old birds, it was hen "Miss Hastings" who brought home the proverbial palm. 
Esther, who works for the police, has been a fanatic pigeon fancier for fifteen years and with Argenton she was able to add the 1st national victory to her record of achievements. 

System racing hens
The racing hens are housed in a garden loft with two sections. One section has only perches hanging against the wall. An aviary has been mounted in front of this loft in which they are allowed to spend a whole day. In fact, they have a choice between the loft and the aviary. On the other loft are the nesting boxes. In this department, the racing hens did winter breeding. When the youngsters were 17 to 18 days old, the hens were moved from one department to another so that they did not lay a 2nd time. They then moved to another aviary for a while until the youngsters were weaned. Then they returned to their loft (with perches) and were allowed to start their daily training immediately, as winter rest is not an issue here. The pigeons flew 2-3 times a week during the winter months despite the problems with birds of prey. "Luckily we have our border collie" says Patrick "when the pigeons are outside, he constantly walks in front of the lofts which immediately reduces the appetite of the raptor". 
The ladies were darkened from 1 March to 1 May. 
If there are any hens in the pair, they go to the mini aviary behind the racing hens' loft. They are then allowed to train and after training they move back there. 
The partners of the racing hens are not raced. They are always ready when they come home. On the speed they are allowed to stay together until evening and from the middle distance they stay together until the following day in the morning between 9 and 10 o'clock. "We don't keep the pigeons locked up and they are just loose in the loft, "says Esther. 
There is also a small loft for 10 widowers that will be raced in two teams for the small middle-distance races, as 2 nights in the middle-distance basket is a fact. Ether: "Our widowers were also darkened in spring but we stopped this a week earlier than the hens. It is the 2nd year only that we play with widowers and we will see if we master this system. 
The hens train in the evening and the widowers always train in the morning, due to pure lack of time. The training is still very good so far and certainly the hens make the hour well. 
With the youngsters, we have an automatic gate that opens in the morning so they can go outside. We don't see them fly but this way they gain the necessary experience. 
As for feeding, we use Beyers' schedule, giving them Galaxy Light, Energy and Breeding. We also use the latter when they return home from heavy flights. Furthermore, we also give them a protein pill when they return home from a heavy race and either Belgasol from Belgica De Weerd or Tolyamin Forte from Schroeder Tollissan goes into their drinking water. During the week itself, regular Zell Oxygen (Herbots) goes over the feed. 
On the medical front, they received a tricho cure before the racing season and were given ¼ flagyl 14 days before Vierzon. We also use yellow drops weekly and if they feel it is necessary, something against ornithosis is given. 

The proverbial head is off and when we see how fanatically Esther and her husband Patrick tackle the whole thing it would not surprise us if some more national wins start popping out of the sky here. We wish it to them wholeheartedly. 
 

2021

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2023

Stefan Mertens