Thijs Nick & Roger from Hallaar - 1st National Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2022 and 1st National Ace Pigeon All Round youngsters KBDB 2022

For those who thought 2021 would be their best season of their career, they have returned from a barren journey. For Nick & Roger Thijs from Hallaar in Antwerp it seems more and more that they are a fixed value in the very best colony in our pigeon country. In 2021 they won 1st National Champion extreme middle distance young birds with a very strong young pigeon team and also 1st National Argenton against 14,787 old birds. In total they had 4 National Ace pigeons in the TOP 10 in different categories.

When we look at this season, the bar has once again been raised by themselves, there are only a few lofts that win 2 National Ace pigeons in the same year and that these 2 top pigeons come from the same mother is even more unique. On top of that, they were also very close in another category in the small middle distance and had to settle for silver. Take a look at this impressive list from this season

1st National Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Yearlings KBDB 2022
1st National Ace Pigeon All Round youngsters KBDB 2022
1st Provincial Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Youngsters KBDB 2022
2nd National Ace bird middle distance youngsters KBDB 2022
2nd Provincial Champion heavy middle distance old birds + yearlings KBDB 2022
2nd Provincial Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Youngsters KBDB 2022
3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Youngsters KBDB 2022
3rd Provincial Ace Pigeon Heavy Middle Distance Old Birds + Yearlings KBDB 2022
4th Provincial Ace Pigeon Middle Distance Youngsters KBDB 2022
5th National Champion Heavy Middle Distance Old Birds + Yearlings KBDB 2022
6th National Ace bird middle distance youngsters KBDB 2022

It all started for Nick & Roger when Nick, as a 15 year old boy, wanted to start with pigeons. A loft was built at the parental home and he could start, as everywhere they started with pigeons from friends and fanciers from the neighbourhood, but it soon became apparent that a new top loft had been born in Hallaar in Antwerp. In the beginning mainly on sprint and short middle distance, the switch came later when in 2015 they went to the national races for the first time with their young hens. That year they became 1st National Champion extreme middle distance youngsters and they won 1st National (z) La Souterraine against 1,633 youngsters. The pigeons that were the best racing pigeons in the period from 2005-2015 can still be found in their current stock. They have always made the choice to be strict and just play with the pigeons. In that period of 10 years, it was mainly the pigeons that could race in the middle distance and front that were allowed to stay, “Portier” – “511/12” – “Witte 6” -… and so on. You will find them all in the current top pigeons and national ace pigeons.The loft that was built as the first loft opposite now is something different, of course. The racing loft for widowers and hens is not large and there is only 1 loft per sex. For the youngsters we find a new loft that has been drastically adapted since 2020 because the old one was worn out. That decision was postponed for a long time because of all the work, but if they knew then what they know now, they would have put this loft 5 years earlier. But that's the way it is, as a fancier you make decisions everywhere, in the racing and breeding loft, on the flights and at the couplings. But the Thijs family is now a well-oiled team consisting of father Roger and son Nick, but as the most important link mother Godelieve who can never miss her pigeons.

Hens and cocks on classic widowhood

The system has been established here for several years with the old and yearlings. Only the old racing pigeons do winter breeding, so here the best hens are coupled to the best widowers in order to know more quickly about their breeding qualities. The yearlings can rest in the aviary for a while because they were darkened in their year of birth and are raced until the last National race. The hens are taken away during breeding when the youngsters are 14 days old to prevent the 2nd laying.
 

In the month of February they come back outside quietly and the training sessions start, in the beginning take it easy because they don't know long training here in Hallaar. From 1 March to the end of April only the hens are darkened, no extra lighting is done with the old ones. In the run-up to Bourges they regularly fly 2x a day to build up a bit of condition, from then on they usually fly all national flights so that they do enough kilometers in the weekend so that they only train 1x a day more in between.
 

This system has been established for years, but they still wonder whether growing in winter is necessary? So they don't know yet whether they will do it next winter.
During the day the hens are kept in a small aviary where they normally always stay, only when it is warm they have the choice between the loft and the aviary because it can also get too hot in there.
 

Do you attach importance to motivation?
 

It seems to us that this is less and less necessary, the cocks are taken in when they are basketed and we let the hens fly from the resting loft to their boxes without anything waiting there. We do this just to be able to record them more quietly because they know what time it is on Thursday. After returning home they stay together for 1 to 2 hours, but here too there is variation in the system. We already let them recover for some time and then gave them their partners later in the day and this year we also gave them their partners 1x only the next day. It doesn't make any difference if they want to come, that's what counts. We also have pigeons that fly less and get the same food and are motivated in our way and therefore fly less than our better pigeons, we always try to test our pigeons hard on the flights from their birth year and that is still the best selection.
 

The widowers get rest between 2 national races and the hens race between the national races in either Noyon or middle distance. This depends on the weather of that weekend itself. In any case, the pigeons will no longer do La Souterraine and Gueret in succession in the circumstances as they were this year.

NATIONAL ACE BIRDS

BE 21-6032716 “Lotte” Dark Chequered Hen
1st National Ace Heavy Middle Distance yearlings KBDB 2022

17           NAT Chateuaroux             5.720b
24           NAT Gueret                      12.208b
66           NAT Bourges                   10.366b
77           NAT Issoudun                  12.349b
145         NAT Chateauroux           18.741b

Sire BE 18-6109590 Gikke – Gust De Volder
Won himself 3 x 1st Noyon – 1st Ace Diamantverbond Noyon
Superbreeder
Father from “021/22” 4th Prov Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022

Dam BE 18-6063567 Black Pearl
Won herself 15 Nat (z) Argenton 5.043b 
Super breeding hen
Mother from “005/22” 1st National Ace All Round young birds KBDB 2022
Sister from “BE 16-6255551 Zus Victoria”
Won herself 2 Prov Blois 2.661b – 6 Melun 835b - 7 Nat Chateaurux 14.955b – 8 Souppes 895b – 8 Noyon 835b - 20 Nat Chateauroux 2.858b – 51 Nat Chateauroux 14.762b
                Is mother from “Ace 45” 3th Nat Ace All Round young birds KBDB 2021 + 6th Nat Ace
                               Heavy M.D. young birds KBDB 2021
Sister from “Victoria” 10 Nat Chateauroux 14.762b – 21 Nat La Souterraine 16.613b
½ sister “Tammeke” 1 Nat Ace Heavy M.D. yearlings ( 8 races )
Daughter from “Zwarte Mol” Superbreeder x “521/12” Super breeding hen

BE 22-6034005 Dark Chequered Hen
1st National Ace All Round young birds KBDB 2022

4             Melun                                   2.850b ( 4th fastest 13.567b after 3 loftmates )
5             Noyon                                   1.510b
38           NAT Argenton                  13.393b
86           Prov Fay Aux Loges          5.959b
197         NAT Argenton                  22.869b

Sire BE 12-6234511 Den 11
Won himself 1 Sourdun 107b – 3 Souppes 223b – 3 Sourdun 179b – 4 Souppes 434b – 8 Prov Gien
Superbreeder

Dam BE 18-6063567 Black Pearl
Won herself 15 Nat (z) Argenton 5.043b 
Super breeding hen
Mother from “716/21” 1st National Ace Heavy Middle Distance yearlings KBDB 2022
Sister from “BE 16-6255551 Zus Victoria”
Won herself 2 Prov Blois 2.661b – 6 Melun 835b - 7 Nat Chateaurux 14.955b – 8 Souppes 895b – 8 Noyon 835b - 20 Nat Chateauroux 2.858b – 51 Nat Chateauroux 14.762b
                Is mother from “Ace 45” 3th Nat Ace All Round young birds KBDB 2021 + 6th Nat Ace
                               Heavy M.D. young birds KBDB 2021
Sister from “Victoria” 10 Nat Chateauroux 14.762b – 21 Nat La Souterraine 16.613b
½ sister “Tammeke” 1 Nat Ace Heavy M.D. yearlings ( 8 races )
Daughter from “Zwarte Mol” Superbreeder x “521/12” Super breeding hen

BE 22-6034099 “Gone with the wind” Chequered Hen
1st Prov Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022
2nd Nat Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022
( unfortunately this pigeon was lost on her last flight )

1             Melun                                  2.850b ( fastest 13.567b )
3             Melun                                  2.784b
6             Fay Aux Loges                   1.535b
6             Quievrain                               891b
22           Prov Fay Aux Loges         5.959b

Sire BE 20-6185707 Kleine Karel – Co breeding Luc Vervoort x Thijs
Son from topcock “Karel” x “521/12” is mother from super breeding hen “Black Pearl”

Dam BE 18-6109589 “Lorette” – Gust De Volder 

BE 22-6034028 “Favoriet Pieke” Blue Hen
2nd Prov Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022
6th Nat Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022
 

4             Melun                                   2.803b
5             Fay Aux Loges                   1.535b
5             Quievrain                               340b
6             Noyon                                 1.510b
8             Melun                                  2.784b
8             Quievrain                               891b
20           Prov Fay Aux Loges         5.959b

Sire BE 17-6052857 Favoriet
Topbreeder
Father from “770/20” 1 Nat (z) Bourges 3.333b
Father from “815/20” 62 Nat Chateauroux 22.196b
Son from topbreeder “Thor” is son from White 6 x “Maria” Gaston Van de Wouwer

Dam BE 18-6063549 Pie
Won herself 1 Melun 2.090b – 2 Noyon 1.095b – 3 Chevrainvilliers 646b - 5 Melun 3.249b – 6 Melun 313b – 9 Chevrainvilliers 1.192b
Daughter from “Son Portier” x “422/14” won 1 Noyon 896b – 1 Sourdun 640b – 10 Nat (z) Chateauroux 5.939b - 16 Nat Bourges 19.736b – 22 Nat Gueret 16.262b and is daughter from superbreeder “511/12” 

Young pigeons in the new loft

The new loft has been in place since 2020 and we feel very good about it, there is an aviary in front of the loft where they can stay at all times and only at the front is the possibility to open it, it is shielded with windbreak mesh that is in different sizes. pieces can be taken.

Every year they breed 110 youngsters to race and they are raced as 1 group, they are darkened from the beginning of March until the longest day and 2 to 3 weeks later they start with extra lighting. This is from 6am to 11pm, we use a fixed one from early to late season.
 

The youngsters get Aidi Breeding until we really want them to start flying, this is usually in April when we think it's time and from then on the mixture is made lighter. During training we drive about 8 times before they go along on Quievrain. This year they did this 3x before they went to Noyon and middle distance, but for next year the plan is different, they will do at least 1x more Quievrain. A pigeon has to gain confidence, once the train has left, these pigeons can take a beating more than you only play this twice.
 

The pigeons are placed on the sliding door from Noyon and train 1x a day in the morning, here too there were no couples and the sliding door did not open when basketing. When they get home, they can stay together until the evening. The young cocks race more middle distance than the young hens, they mainly race the national program. In between the national races we choose either Noyon or middle distance. That decision always falls the week itself, how tough the flight has been and what is yet to come. But when they are in motion, they have to come every week.

PROVINCIAL ACE BIRDS

BE 22-6034064 Vuil Blauwe Cock
3th Prov Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022 ( after 2 loftmates )

2             Melun                                   2.850b ( 2nd fastest 13.567b after loftmate )
2             Quievrain                                891b
4             Melun                                   2.784b
15           Noyon                                  1.510b
27           Melun                                   1.009b
168         NAT Chateauroux           17.081b

Sire BE 19-6036717 
Won himself 8 Chevrainvilliers 1.532b – 11 Noyon 1.299b - 26 Nat (z) Bourges 4.514b -38 Nat Bourges 22.506b – 89 Nat Chateauroux 24.617b
Son from topbreeder “Thor” is son from White 6 x “Maria” Gaston Van de Wouwer

Dam BE 20-6185703 Tammeke
1 Nat Ace Heavy M.D. year birds 2021 ( 8 races )
1 Ace Fondclub Antwerpen
7 Nat Ace Heavy M.D. year birds KBDB 2021
Won 3 Noyon 1.299b – 50 Nat Chateauroux 22.196b – 56 Nat Issoudun 14.758b – 97 Nat Chateauroux 7.674b – 117 Nat Bourges 25.096b – 186 Nat La Souterraine 14.037b – 214 Nat Chateauroux 10.317b – 251 Nat Argenton 21.282b
½ sister from “Black Pearl” is mother from 1st National Ace All Round young birds KBDB 2022 and 1st National Ace Heavy M.D. yls KBDB 2022
Daughter from superbreeder “Zwarte Mol” x “924/17” Geertje – Geert Lambrechts is super breeding hen

BE 22-6034021 “Den 21” Chequered white feather Cock
4th Prov Ace M.D. young birds KBDB 2022 ( after 3 loftmates )

3             Melun                                   2.850b ( 3th fastest 13.567b after 2 loftmates )
6             Melun                                   2.784b
11           Fay Aux Loges                   1.535b
36           Prov Fay Aux Loges          5.959b
36           Melun                                   1.375b
558         NAT Chateauroux           17.081b

Sire BE 18-6109590 Gikke – Gust De Volder
Won himself 3 x 1st Noyon – 1st Ace Diamantverbond Noyon
Superbreeder
Father from “716/21” 1st National Ace Heavy M.D. yls KBDB 2022

Dam BE 19-6036710 Sister Klakkeman
Won herself 38 NAT La Souterraine 8.383b
½ sister “Tammeke” 1 Nat Ace Heavy M.D. year birds 2021 ( 8 races )
Daughter from “366/17” Rik Hermans x “924/17” Geertje – Geert Lambrechts is super breeding hen

Coaching

We have been using Aidi's mixtures since 2021. During the week they are given Vliegmix 1, 2 or 3. The hens are given Girl Power daily from the middle distance and on the last day then Vliegmix 3. When they return home it is always Vliegmix 3. You cannot record the feeding system on paper, we look at training, appetite, difficulty of the flight and temperature outside.
 

After the season, the pigeons all get moulting mixture and the racing pigeons that stay in the aviary during the winter get Rust Aidi.For the medical story we always consult Dr.Mariën and we use his condition powder weekly and his condition syrup once a month. When we get home we always give Belgasol from Belgica De Weerd and when it is warm during the week we also give it extra. We also use Aidi's Health Elixir or Condition Booster as a bonus and on Sundays, yellow drops are added to the food for disinfection during 1 feeding.
 

During the whole season only the old pigeons got 1x something against Tricho for the season and both groups 1x something against the head. With the youngsters this was when we had problems with eye infections like everyone else.

Congratulations to Nick,Roger and Godelieve with these fantastic results from the entire HERBOTS TEAM.

Buelens Kim