Engels Jules & Yves (Putte) wins 1st Provincial Bourges with top hen “Roos”

On the national race from Bourges, the top hen from the Engels family's super colony was allowed to triumph. This top hen, "Roos," is a super hen; she already won 1st Nat (z) Bourges last year and has done so again this year. For Jules & Yves, this is another boost and confirmation of the quality they possess.

**Racing pigeon system**

The pigeons are raced here on total widowhood. At the start of the season, they are briefly shown at basketing; as the distance increases, they are allowed to be together for one hour on the day of basketing. Upon arrival, the focus is more on recovery rather than being kept together. Therefore, they are only brought together the day after; the pigeons enjoy this more, and once they are used to it, it is not a problem. We usually do this on Sunday evening around 5 or 6 pm and let them sit together until it gets dark. This year, they were allowed to stay together until the following morning only once. In terms of training, they are only allowed to explore the airspace of Putte in the morning; for demanding races, they do not train on the day of basketing.

Darking is applied only to the hens; the widowers are not darkened. Darkening is discontinued for the hens one month before Bourges. No artificial lighting is used.

The feed consists of Hoebrechts mixtures; they start with the Superdiet mixtures. Afterwards, they give the Sport mixture along with treat seeds and hemp seeds in the final days. Especially in the morning, the pigeons are not given heavy food; Superdiet with hemp seeds or just Superdiet is usually the standard at the Engels household.

The medical side is handled here by Raf Herbots, who is regularly checked on. Additional products during the week also come from the Herbots and Herbovet range, especially Recovery and ALR upon arrival, and a lot of ALR is given afterwards.

Bourges Winner

BE 25-6083254 “Roos” Hen

1 Nat (z) Bourges 3.112p ( 35 Nat 13.213p )
1 Prov Bourges 1.426p ( 8 Nat 8.070p )
41 Nat (z) La Chatre 2.392p ( 278 Nat 15.447p )
67 Nat (z) Sancoins 2.421p  ( 449 Nat 15.830p )
61 Melun 2.173p

Full sister “130/24” 2 Noyon 7,970p – 7 Melun 4,666p - 17 Nat (z) Argenton 2,638p - 32 Nat La Chatre 10,300p – 64 Nat Argenton 15,386p
Full sister “253/25” 2 Noyon 940p – 39 Nat (z) La Chatre 2,392p – 44 Toury 2,865p – 69 Noyon 7,205p

Father BE 22-6133468 Remco
Won himself 9th National Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Young Birds KBDB 2022
Won 43 Nat Argenton 22,869p – 106 Nat Argenton 13,393p – 254 Nat Chateauroux 17,081p
Son of “767/17” Son of foundation hen Jolien x “581/17” daughter of brother of Limoges 1st National Limoges 15,009p

Mother BE 21-6192488 Daughter Leon x Nina 
Daughter of “163/15” Leon is son of Limoges 1st Nat Limoges 15,009p x “276/20” Nina 4th Nat Ace Pigeon heavy middle distance KBDB 2021 herself won 1st Nat (z) Bourges 2,258p – 1st Melun 2,202p

Yves and Jules, congratulations on yet another victory of your career, and on to the next one.

The Herbots Team.

Buelens Kim