B23-5005656
1st National Bourges 18,627 old birds
Distance: 490km
Velocity: 1,810 m/m

What a feeling that must be…you have made a second start in pigeon racing and now 4 seasons later you can nail a national victory to the proverbial ceiling. All this happened to the sympathetic Nico Renders from Sluizen, located near Tongeren.
We are talking about a 2nd start because in 2003 the Renders family was the victim of a fire and both the pigeons and the associated lofts did not survive. Result, Nico threw in the towel.
But influenced by brother Ludo and by his uncle and by well-known champion Jos Thoné, the “pigeon virus” was rekindled and Nico filled in a loft list again 4 years ago. Sluizen was once again a pigeon fancier richer.
Nico currently has 12 breeding couples and about 80 racing pigeons. The 150 youngsters come partly from his own breeders and partly from Jos Thoné and brother Ludo.

“Mette” B23-5005656

The national victory was achieved by hen “Mette”. “Mette” beat the 18,627 old Bourges flyers with an average speed of 1,810 m/m. Nico could not immediately give a clear answer to the question whether “Mette” was motivated, but he had already noticed that a 3rd partner had come between the couple and perhaps that was the motivation of “Mette” to achieve this victory.
Nico plays his 80 racing pigeons on total widowhood. The flyers did not breed before the start of the season, but they were coupled on December 10 and at the beginning of February they were allowed to make their first tours around the loft. During that period it is always hoped that the bird of prey does not strike. At the beginning of March the training basket was dusted off and via sprint and middle distance it went towards Bourges national.
The pigeons train once a day. Nico's wife releases the hens when she comes home from work (around 3:30 pm) and when Nico comes home he calls them in. A little later the cocks are allowed to fly through the air.
The hens fly the national program, while the cocks have only flown speed so far. The sexes do not come together for basketing, but when the hens are home the sliding doors are opened and a party can be built.
Feeding is simplicity itself. Every day there is Thoné mixture (Beyers) on the menu. The pigeons are allowed to eat whatever they want and as soon as a few start drinking everything is taken away. As for by-products, recuperation powder is added to the feed on Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday the Thoné mixture is enriched with oil.
Medically, Nico visits Raf Herbots for the mandatory vaccinations and furthermore all racers get BS in their drinking water for 2 days every 3 weeks. If something is not to Nico's liking, he will contact Raf Herbots.
And "Mette"... she will no longer be raced, but will get a place of honor in Nico's breeding loft. Hopefully she will now develop into a top breeding hen. You deserve it.

Congratulations from the entire Herbots Team

Stefan Mertens

Stefan Mertens