Deschepper – De Temmermann (Merelbeke) provincial winner Limoges old pigeons

Timing in life is sometimes essential, you arrive just too late for the train, you are much too early for an appointment and you have plenty of time to have a coffee, you “coincidentally” meet the partner of your life, you are just in time to see your first pigeon arrive etc…..time plays a major role in our lives. The provincial victory on Limoges old pigeons for Marita and Herman was also well chosen by the winning hen. The path of health has been bumpy in recent months with several hospital admissions for Herman. As a pigeon fancier you are just like a cattle farmer, the animals need to be cared for every day and they need to be fed, observed, watered…no excuses. But in the absence you cannot do without help and in the case of Herman and Marita, Marita is very capable of taking care of the pigeons. They have been practicing their hobby together for a long time and neither of them is willing to do anything to help each other. Marita took excellent care of the pigeons, consulted Herman about what had to be done and what could be done and a good season could be started. Herman is well known in pigeon circles at the age of 76. For years, the Deschepper – De Temmerman duo has been at the forefront of the results of the middle distance, heavy middle distance and day long distance with numerous ace pigeons, championship titles in the cupboard. Herman has also been involved in the Merelbeke-Melsen pigeon club for many years. It is a duo that has experienced and been allowed to experience a lot in pigeon racing, fortunately they can already put many things into perspective but are still very happy with this provincial victory!

Double widowhood at the basis

We still remember a visit from a few years ago. Beautiful garden, beautiful pigeon loft, everything well thought out in the organization. Their pigeon loft once burned down and a new pigeon loft was built thanks to a well-maintained insurance of their property.Herman is vanaf de beginfase ook een fervent aanhanger geweest van het dubbel weduwschap omdat je zo toch wel 2 vliegen in 1 klap vangt. Alle potentiële krachten moeten aan de slag en je ontdekt ook de kracht van goede duivinnen. Hij was hier samen met nog enkele andere pioniers een beetje de voortrekker. This is still practiced in this way, although it has been given its own interpretation from experience. There are more hens than cocks (approximately 50 yearlings and old pigeons, the majority of which are hens). For the older hens, there is a cock that stays at home to keep the motivation up. A few cocks are also raced, but it is carefully checked whether the motivation remains at a sufficiently high level and this is adjusted where necessary. The hens have bred early. The breeding stock is not that large and youngsters are ringed from the best couples. The stock of young pigeons is 120 over 2 rounds, of which 100 are still touring in Merelbeke. The hens live in a small box (in the past they were locked up in their nest box...) they are allowed to go freely in the box and there are wooden grids on the floor. In the event of occasional mating behaviour, a hen is sometimes moved. The racing pigeons came together for a few days at the beginning of March to ensure that the training flights went smoothly. The pigeons are normally basketed every week, sometimes the cocks are given a rest, but this is avoided for the hens if possible. The pigeons train once a day and it is no problem for them to keep them in the air for an hour... "but I am not allowed to show myself"... Herman adds. Before basketing they always get to see their partner and a lot of attention is also paid to this when they return home.

Be and remain alert

Marita and Herman have always been well “in” with the pigeon sport. They have not ignored new trends or developments and they still remain alert and awake to get their warriors optimally at the start. The double widowhood….in function of…leaving cocks at home…a good observer learns a lot from the pigeons themselves and from their environment. Also in the care everything is done well and neatly. The pigeons are given a constructive diet, i.e. a kind of detox at the beginning of the week and then get a mix of flight mixture and energy closer to the basketing abyss with hemp seed and sunflower seeds. Fill the tank well!
Medically, Herman has learned to, where possible, stay away from medicines as much as possible, but when it has to be done, it has to be done. He regularly goes for a check-up with Dr Vander Cruyssen in Oosterzele to get an expert opinion.
However, by-products are regularly used to supplement the missing elements. Natural products can help a lot with this, is an experience they have. A pleasant discovery is Zell Oxygen that is regularly provided.
In short, a motivated approach and care that also makes the satisfaction of a victory all the greater.

Elise (BE23-4071641) does the trick!

She is a fast blue hen that left the 1,248 other East Flemish pigeons behind at Limoges. With a speed of 1,307.77 meters per minute, she also neatly placed 5th nationally out of 4,695 pigeons. She previously also flew her prizes from Toury over Chateaudun, Bourges, Tulle.
She comes from “good blood” within the colony. Her father is a cross of the old line of the house with mainly the influence of Olympiad hen Edith and a dash of Ally-Vandenabeele. Mother is a hen from Davy Neyrinck (Gavere) and is a 100% Tom Van Gaver hen. She does not come from strangers to achieve such a victory. And to conclude, Herman's words "it can do you good sometimes"!

Congratulations from the Herbots team!

Geert Dhaenens