Introduction

the Loft Harold Zwiers

My name is Harold Zwiers (1969) and many years active in the pigeon sport. I am living in Den Ham, a village situated between Zwolle and Hardenberg; an area where space is more the rule than the exception. Here I live together with my wife on the same plot of land where my childhood home has been. The old farmhouse is demolished and in its place are two modern houses and risen, which I along with Gerda one living. "Never went away so", you could say. Since childhood I am always with the pigeons have been busy.

Since 1997 I here about a new loft. In 1998 was on this pen for the first time with the competitions started. This loft is 13 metres long and 2 meters deep, divided into 5 departments. 2 sections for the widowers of 2 x 2.40 m. Then 2 m for the widow hens; the rest of the Loft is intended for nest game (2 x 8 baking). The youngsters are placed in an outside run and also for a portion is covered with a plate. The aluminum outside run for the youngsters is to 3 sides all the way open and measure 3.60 at 2 metres. An open race with back wall for about 50 youngsters. On the loft with high hood and solid ventilation is the overnachtfondspel addressed. Normal with 56 racing pigeons ( 24 widowers, widow hens and 8 nest hens).

I practice my beloved game in the friends National Competitions (VNCC), a 900 -member club of long distance fanciers in the Department 9. In addition, hive I my pigeons to the NIC ' the Courier ' to vriezeveen. Since the building of the new loft is the line of clearly increasing performance.

Family building

On 12 air sport age I joined Vroomshoop. As a Club Member I have worked on my game of the program-level. In 1998 on the new loft started and I have full focused on the long distance. In 1994 on a auction in Zwolle the first 2 Ruitenberg pigeons purchased (Tahir and of the roads). In 1995 Once again 12 young pigeons at A. Ruitenberg. Also, I have grown together with Gerard Schulte (Vroomshoop). Gerard took the Brinkman pigeons and the Wim Derksen (600-line) pigeons. I ended up 8 breeding couples ended up with in the line: Ruitenberg, Brinkman, Jan Theelen and 600-line Wim Derksen. I then own old kind with which I as a youth lover started added. This private old kind dates back from the coat rack couple of John R. via Herman Dabiri from Vroomshoop. An example of successful fly with this species is Mans Hager from Den Ham. He took out with me a hen of this coat rack kind and grew the ACE pigeon 97-2359407 (1e ACE pigeon VNCC with more than 4.500 kilometers price in 2000).

Now anno 2011 My Loft for 80 % from descendants of the super breeding couple the 94-1336 x 01-489 Diana and of course the Pearl cock & Pearl hen

Loft

I'm trying to get everything out of my pigeons; all pigeons in the Loft (with the exception of the breeders) should start to appear. Cocks and hens on nest, but also cocks and hens in widowhood. Also the youngsters go all flights with it, also on the flights that go beyond 300 km. Last season (2010) I had 24 couples total widowhood and 16 nesting pairs. In principle, all couples basketed, both widowhood as nest concerns.
In the winter of 2009/2010 once dwelt there 123 pigeons in the Loft. Such a 55 pigeons were there linked on 2 January 2010 and the young pigeon loft counted around the 70 youngsters who in fact have a "covered ren" : plenty of air, plenty of health. Not all couples is grown: eggs from the best pigeons are laid under the yearlings. And there are nursing couples who take over the care of the best pigeons. In fact bring only the breeders (16 couples) and nursing couples the youngsters large

Care

My yearlings have in their entire life had still no Yellow Spa. In fact, my pigeons a yellow Spa such a 3 to 4 weeks before the first overnachtfondvlucht. I give my pigeons really only something, When they are sick. It may sound weird, but it is so. I try my pigeons to keep as close as possible to the nature. Over-exercising, perform well and try to get the form by the training.

In fact I know in early spring with all which pigeons go to a certain large national race, but it depends on the condition of the time wondering if they actually go along.

For me starts from 1 May adjust the real season. Everything is elegant trimmed. The vacuum cleaner every day in the Loft; also the part under the hood is fully cleaned. Starting from 1 may you can walk on your socks by the Loft: everything. I start around 5.00 o'clock in the morning, then after work I am also quite a few hours trying to get the pigeons to take care. Then it starts also prepare the pigeons: everything is going along with the first flights. Starting from 20 April also start the Duffel-flights (to go on Tuesday, and dissolve Wednesday). It happens then that the pigeons sometimes 3 x 200 kilometers in one week pass.
Ikeen mixture of M use as feed, Matador and Babu, supplemented by Tovo, Candy seeds and peanuts, Sunflower seed and hemp for stepping up to the flight. In principle, the cocks be conducted separately in the bins, so they can be dealt with separately, depending on the situation with regard to the flights. And if then the season once under way and the flights have started, then it goes on Saturday before basketing (weather permitting) to 4.00 hours the alarm clock and is to 5.30 hours in the direction of Rosmalen driven (120 km) to the pigeons there for a training to solve. All this in addition to the daily training of 2 x 1 ½ hour.

Medical supervision

In december I give the pigeons a paratyphus Spa. This with Para stop by Van der Westhuizen and that 14 days long. Of course the hard edge against paramyxo (January). The pigeons are given no yellow under link Spa, but 4 to 5 weeks for St. Vincent the pigeons will be cured with BS from Van der Westhuizen during 6 days. Also a few times WN (White noses of Van der Westhuizen) a day or 6 to 7 before basketing during 1 to 2 days. It is located on the condition of the pigeons at that time if I provide at all. A weekly tea (especially during the winter period) by Beyers and Beyers as feed is also used. Weekly garlic and Brewer's yeast in winter, also in summer day.

Preparation for breeding

The breeding will is scheduled to take place sometime between Christmas and new years.
On 1 December started with a 14 (a) 15 day para stop Spa, This is then through the feed mixed and edited with roosvice. From that time the pigeons were still on moulting mixture. Starting from 1 December is also becoming more barley added per day and are on 75% barley ( 26 grams per Pigeon/day). So she keeps you slim.

While cures are the lofts of vacuumed and cleaned ,then comes in with a great burner through. During this cure the young cocks also put on the baking. How do I go to work? I place the pigeons in a cage and leave them the first days getting used to and choose for yourself what. Then one morning the yearling hens get caught and those on closed with the young cocks on the bins (half and half).This I find myself an advantage because the hens then even though beautiful to the bins get used and have in turn share with linking and the young cocks are beautiful bakvast.

From about 14 days for linking is there are lightened from morning 6.00 hours to about 19.00 o'clock in the evening. I find it illuminating in the morning even more important than in the evening. You can just brands to the pigeons because they are much more active than. It is the last 14 days for linking all lined though the basis of the enter more than 60% barley and a spoon feed per Pigeon/day (26 grams). What is then fed? Number 1 t/m 3 be added to the basic menu (26 GR per Pigeon) and will be the last days for linking something more % than as in the beginning. Number 4 t/m 6 be fed separately.

1. Candy seeds
2. egg food
3. hemp
4. bucket of all kinds of (patagoon)
5. Redstone and grit
6. MultiMix (dHP)
7. After pairing tovo
8. wheat germ oil to the day
9. garlic oil with Brewer's yeast to the day

How is linked?

For linking the pigeons will be completely drained as much as they want (with 50 % barley as the base still). Always disconnect the pigeons in the evening and do it instinctively (the best fliers on each other). I note on the building and look at the eye colors.
During the linking operation, the baking weather on half put so that the cocks nice can rant and off the pigeons can get used to each other nicely. If all the lights are out then end up together is done. The next morning at 6.00 hours the lights back on (the pigeons are not fed tomorrow). I can then see which couples nice though there clicks if they still aren't together and let them afrazen again all day until the evening. Only then are the hens los resigned and again fed and can drink. If that happens, everything is locked up but then again together and the light is from done. The next morning everything is combined and then start with letting go of torque for torque and gradually getting more (Sometimes it is than with 1 day all for each other).

From linking to the 1st egg is more and more fed and grow less barley. As soon as the first eggs there are brake goes back on and become more barley and sets there stopped the Nr. 1 t/m 3 and weather tight fed (all pigeons need to transpire during the nest feeding). I use here always tobacco stems as nesting material (Let them first a night in the water and then drain) they are pretty flexible and you get beautiful nests with fewer broken eggs.

With this method was there last year (2009) on 2 January linked during severe frost
as a result, 55 couples with 13 days all on eggs.