The time has come. After those endless months of preparation, feeding, pairing, and that eternal waiting, we are finally underway again. The sprinters can get to work. In Belgium they have already started, and here as well you can feel the excitement building everywhere. And honestly: no matter how many years you’ve been in the sport, it remains a beautiful moment.
Winter is behind us, the uncertainty around bird flu is (hopefully) behind us as well, and the baskets are opening again. You can feel the tension in the air. Every fancier knows: the game is on again.
But be careful, because with the start of the season also comes the moment of truth. In winter you can plan and hope all you want, but spring is ruthless. It immediately shows you how your loft is really doing.
The First Trainings Never Lie
Those first flights are often a harsh reality for those who do not pay attention. A pigeon may look perfect in the loft, and on paper it may be a top one, but as soon as it has to fly those first kilometres, reality appears.
Then suddenly you start seeing the weak points:
Pigeons simply falling behind.
Pigeons recovering far too slowly.
Pigeons not “pulling” or not trapping like you are used to.
And let me be very clear about that: this is the moment when you, as a fancier, need to act.
I too often see fanciers comforting themselves with excuses:
“Ah, they still need to loosen up a bit,” or
“It’s probably just a little stiffness, I’ll give it another week.”
Do not fool yourself. Problems in a pigeon loft rarely solve themselves. On the contrary.
Be On Time
If you notice your pigeons are not performing as expected, do not wait endlessly. Put them in the basket, go to a specialised pigeon vet, and have them checked properly.
Whether it is respiratory issues, tricho, intestinal problems, or hidden loss of condition, you want to know now. Not three weeks from now, when half your loft is infected and you are only chasing the facts.
A small problem tackled early stays small. Ignore it? It becomes a monster. Believe me, I have seen it all myself.
Never forget: hidden problems are the biggest silent killers of your season.
They are not sick enough to die, but they are sick enough never to win a prize.
Four Things I Always Watch As a Mentor
If I may give you one piece of advice in this crucial period, pay attention to these four things:
The trapping: Do they come home sharply? Or do they first circle around three times before trapping? A healthy team comes home with conviction.
The recovery: How quickly do they tighten up again after training? A top pigeon quickly returns to normal. If they keep panting or sit quietly in a corner, there is work to do.
The droppings: This remains the mirror of health. Nice firm droppings are what you want to see. Persistent watery or green droppings two days after exercise are often the first warning sign.
The motivation: A pigeon in form radiates. It is lively, alert, full of temperament. If they look dull, usually something is wrong.
It’s in the blood
Although I have stopped actively racing in the regular Dutch competitions, that absolutely does not mean the passion is gone.
While writing this from sunny Málaga, I still closely follow everything happening. Through friends and fellow fanciers, I hear every day how the pigeons are performing everywhere.
Once pigeon sport gets into your blood, it never truly leaves.
In fact, I am already fully involved again in several international races (One Loft Races). My first youngsters are already on their way to beautiful competitions:
AfrikaPro, in South Africa (my pigeons have already been there for 2–3 months).
Derby Ribera del Órbigo, where my team arrived last week.
Avirings, where another team has already gone.
And in May more pigeons will head to the new OLR: Derby Hungary.
Believe me: even though I no longer race weekly at the club, I still feel the excitement exactly the same.
I wish every fancier the very best of luck in the coming weeks. Enjoy it, because let’s be honest: these are some of the most beautiful weeks of the year.
Until the next blog,
Gerard Schalkwijk
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