CARE AND METHOD.

THE WIDOWERS.

Jos takes care of about 40 widowers, 20 old ones and 20 yearlings. The youngsters of the second and third breed also live at his place.
The widowers paired once (in 2001) or twice before the season. They are only allowed to sit five days on their eggs.

During the winter they may exercise two or three times a week. So they're having a certain basic-condition. Cold or wet weather is no problem. Each cock lives free on his loft. They get only light food.
Around the 25th of March the widowers get their partner. When they have eggs they are cured against trichomonosis. A few days later the widowship begins.
In April and May they get one training a day in the afternoon. In June and July they are exercised twice daily, both morning and evening for one hour. After the race they are first fed light food, the gradually brought back onto the stronger mixture containing a lot of maize. Jos wants the widowers to keep on eating! That's very important. Each widower drinks separately, so they cannot infect one another.
On arrival of the races the widowers got electrolytes. After an important race they are disinfected against trichomonosis. They also get some vitamins in their drink before the races. The eyes are dropped with Forma- drops before and after the race.
Before the race they get no partner. But she's there when they come home. In the beginning of the season 10 minutes, later longer.
Against coccidiose they are only cured when the doctor recommends it. (before the saison)!
For the long distance races Jos and Jan plan very carefully. This is necessary when you have not a lot of widowers. After the season the widowers may bring up a couple of youngsters.

THE BREEDERS.

They are on the loft in Bellem. Around the end of November the 20 couples of breeders are going together. They're breeding two times. After that , only the top-breeders rest together. They're all breeding in a natural way. Sometimes Jan moves a couple of eggs by another one. The top-breeder gets then another hen.

The first round stays sometimes in Bellem. They may race at Jan's loft. In August Jan moves the best cocks to his father. They may bring up a couple of youngsters there. So they come only a few times back to Bellem.
In the future Jan will not race any more with young birds. He will keep some pigeons for the pleasure of seeing them fly. (Some of the third round.)

THE YOUNGSTERS BY JOS.

They're having a very good learning. Normally the cocks must all fly one national.
Some hens may then participate on some other provincial and national races. In 1999 the loft Jos and Jan Loobuyck became provincial winner with the youngsters.
Some hens won four times 1 + 2 on the national races. The races with the youngsters moved to the background, because Jos and Jan want to play the long distance races with the old pigeons. And you cannot do everything.

MEDICAL CARE.

Jos and Jan go normally two times a year to the veterinary. A first time before the breeding and a second time before the racing season. The pigeons are only cured on the advise of the doctor.
The youngsters are all injected against pox with Ovopesterin, after a bad experience with Parapox.
All pigeons are injected against paramyxo by Marianne, the lady of the house, who is a nurse.
Sometimes they're injected against Paratyfus after the moult. Last year this was replaced through a powder in the drinkwater.