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Maarten Hakvoort provides answers to RRP.RO questions
13:36, Miercuri, 18.11.2009
Maarten Hakvoort provides answers to RRP.RO questions
1. What do you think about the increasing usage of medication (drugs and medicine)? Should't we use more natural products?
I believe that in pigeon sport one cannot compete at the top without medicine. But unfortunately many fanciers think that the birds will fly better if they are given medicine. However, those pigeons that are sick must become healthy in order to perform well. Personally I advocate for regular visits to a specialised vet. On his recommendation, one can supply the birds with medicine if necessary.
2. How far do you go with the widowhood during the racing season. I mean, after how many races do you switch to the natural system?
My pigeons are coupled by the end of January. When the youngsters are14 days old, one of them and his mother will be housed in the youngsters section, while the other remains with the male. By the end of March the birds are coupled again and after 5 days of brooding they go into widowhood. This until approximately the mid of August. Afterwards they are coupled again. This way they fly the last 5 races on the natural system. After the last race they are separated from each other.
3. How do you stimulate your widowhood birds? Is there a certain technique or everything depends on each bird?
My cocks stay from Saturday evening until Wednesday afternoon in their widowhood loft. They can train 2 times per day. The females sit in small aviary, up to Wednesday afternoon. The cocks have their last training flight on Wednesday afternoon. Then the hens are let outside for training. So the females train once a day on Wednesday afternoon. The cocks no longer train therefore after Wednesday afternoon. My pigeons can stay together one hour before basketing and one hour after the race. Depending on the race distance they can stay longer. Those pigeons that cannot cope with this „shack up” system are selected out unfortunately.
Edited by Andrei – Silviu Oprea