The Blunder of Bureaucracy The planners behind their desks think they have reinvented the wheel. They simply forget the reality of the last twenty years. In the province of East Flanders, fanciers experimented with this system for years. The result was a disaster. The birds came home with green filth literally up to their ankles. That is not progress. That is the absolute neglect of the athletes we slave over day and night.

The Clean Fight in the Netherlands and Limburg I give a standing ovation to the men of the LVD in Limburg. They are standing their ground against the bureaucracy from Brussels and the Netherlands. The Limburg Shipping Service understands that Pigeon transport is about quality and not about how fast a broom moves through a truck. In the Netherlands, at the NPO, I also see the real top players rising up. They send photos that provide irrefutable proof. Bare cardboard is a breeding ground for misery, while a layer of wood shavings keeps the Pigeons dry and healthy.

Feeding in the Filth Imagine having to eat from a plate you just used as a toilet. That is exactly what we are asking of our Pigeons when we put them on cardboard. The feed mixes with the droppings. The birds eat the bacteria directly. I can already see the medical reports. Coccidiosis will run rampant and the condition of the racing team will collapse like a house of cards. I refuse to let my birds be downgraded to guinea pigs for a system that only pleases the transporter.

The Power of the Wood Shaving Wood shavings are the lungs of the transport crate. They absorb moisture and keep the winners’ feet clean. In Limburg and East Flanders, the conclusion was reached long ago. Cardboard as a base is fine, provided there is a thick layer of shavings on top. That is the gold standard for anyone serious about Pigeons. Real experts are not seduced by smooth talk about dust free working. We want to win prizes and that starts with a proper bed for our birds.