"A whole life between birds and women"

It already was some time ago, we have been present at a public auction of pigeons.  It was 110 kilometres from home, in Thorn, the south of Holland. On the poster: ”Willem de Bruijn from Reeuwijk, the flying dentist”, who opened his treasure room one time for the public. And to be honest, it really felt good to sense the atmosphere one more time.

And if the auction is a success, it really is a feather on the hat of the fancier who sells and also for the organisation. We went there because of our mutual friendship but also because of our gratitude towards Willem, to thank him for all the good pigeons that moved to Blue Heaven Loft where they grew and developed. Among these, several national winners and also Olympic pigeons in Porto and Posnan (Poland). To avoid misunderstandings, we would like to do some explanation. The fact that I bought 4 pigeons was because of a combination of circumstances and here I would like to clear it all out.  I just did what they asked me to do.

I namely had 7 buying orders and I did my job like a good housefather would do. It’s good you know this because when I left the auction-room, somebody I know stopped me and said: ”You didn’t even sell your own pigeons and already you’re looking for other and new material.”  So that’s what I wanted to explain. Please don’t understand me wrong because it was and still is our intention to sell all pigeons of BLUE HEAVEN LOFT, so we won’t have any more pigeons from the month of September till February on our loft. At this moment, all pigeons in Blue Heaven Loft, live separated; cocks and hens on different compartments.  These pigeons won’t get paired any more and they remain separated till after our internet-auction on February 18th-19th 2014.  So we won’t breed any youngsters to ourselves, just to make it all clear.  It should happen once because when you reached the age of 78, all you want is to end in beauty, with in 2013 two more national victories and so the ideal moment to say farewell.  In fact, we already announced it at the beginning of 2013, when we said that if we wouldn’t win a national victory in 2013 (30 chances to win one), we wouldn’t have played well. Luckily, it all worked out all right and we’re happy and proud of what we realised since we arrived back in Belgium (2003-2013).  
I would like to go back to the use of D-cure ampoules Vit.D, which we advised you in our previous article. Recently, we got the opportunity to take a look at an American scientific research and I would like to tell you the most important points of that research.  Attached to this column: ”The forgotten, natural antibiotics that saved millions of lives.“ On this antibiotic, they can’t take any patent, they’re cheap, present all over and a blessed gift of our nature. Can you guess what it is??
“FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE”  

Creates more red blood cells, so more oxygen, more stamina. Van Lierde, winner IRON MEN (Hawaii) knows all about this. Get it as quickly as possible.

May be you think I fool you?  But to be honest ”Fresh air and sunshine” are the oldest medical concepts.  Florence Nightingale, a researcher and scientist was promoted this and worked with it in a very efficient way.  She succeeded to lower down the dead cases in hospitals, not only by the improvement of the hygiene but also by opening the windows wide. It’s necessary to often renew the fresh air in the area of a sick person so the deadly infected air for the longs and the skin can be attacked.  She also let install windows that let in the ultra violet sunshine and directed to the South.  She knew that sunlight not only killed the living bacteria in the air and on our skin but it also seems that sunshine kills the TB microbe inside our body. This probably because of the boost production of Vitamin D, which has an important influence on our immunity system.    Todays scientists, the Microbiologists Heinz Druett and K.R. May asked themselves what would happen when you would spread deadly pathogens (substances that are deadly) over a big city?  How long would the microbes survive?  To test this, they spread E-Coli in the fresh air and they were astonished when they noticed that all living microbes died within two hours.  When you know that E-Coli, under control and restored in recipients at an equal temperature and humidity, mainly survive.  Concerning the sunlight, this is no longer a mystery: sunlight gives a  boost to the Vitamin D values and hereby the immunity system will conquer the intruders.

Conclusion : nowadays, it seems that patients often catch a dangerous infection when they are in hospital. In the U.K, almost 9% catch an infection, which they would never get elsewhere. Every year, 100.000 people die in de U.S.A. of an infection they got in the hospital, which is 3 times more than people dying of H.I.V.  Of this column, you can conclude that fresh air and sunshine (boost of Vit. D values) are very important to living creatures, so also to our pigeons… and this is what I would make clear by this rapport. That’s why we advise the use of D-Cure ampoules Vit.D, certainly in winter, when the sun is low at the horizon and the power of her Ultra Violet radiation is lower too.

Recently, in between Christmas and New Year, we visited a rising star within the pigeon sport. Open doors in the “Antwerpse Kempen”. U.L. was the one who took the initiative and he invited many friends. It all was very well organised and friends came and left.  People came from all over Belgium but we also met some Dutchmen and Germans. The man in question didn’t look at a Euro so that everybody would have a nice time.  People also could take a look at the pigeons and the lofts, which were clean and practical. We think this to be a good initiative, so everybody can take a look at your pigeons without a lot of trouble. This certainly deserves imitation.

The time around New Year is the time of a lot of auctions and feasts of champions. Also “DE HOOP” Rummen in association with “DE GOUDEN VEER”, didn’t escape to this old tradition. Many people and a nice atmosphere made sure that this was a success and their attention mainly went to the fanciers that scored well in 2013.  Also the coupons, donated for youngsters 2014, left at a nice price. The food was for free and of a good quality. The organisation deserves a cheer.

Something to think about: “A nice Russian beauty recently mentioned that Russian men give women the feeling that they relay are women; something she misses with Dutch men.”
“Lazy husbands that leave all work in the house hold to their wives, yearly have 20 times more sex than those men that help out in the house hold. This is written by KDM in HLN.  – “And to a woman, it sometimes is better to leave the past rest because if you really want to be happy, you better not have a good memory! This is said by BV L.A.P. and she knows all about it.”
This is it for now, we’ll be back on January 23rd 2014. Stay healthy and enjoy every day that comes.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

 Michel VANLINT, Zoutleeuw
AUCTION of ALL PIGEONS
February 2014

aankondiging | annonce | announcement | Ankündigung | Chinese

But as we can see and hear, you can’t endorse this claim because in Australia, the government annulled the marriages of gay people, which were allowed by the local authorities. And then in Belgium, they let fly over an American football player, who introduced him being gay, to kick off the game AA GENT-ANDERLECHT. Two complete different points of view… a minority against the opposition… which is very well understood with the Western people. I really don’t understand, even after the rather rough life I lead.

The Far East : Every time I leave Taiwan with destiny P.R. China, or back home, I always feel a bit sad. It always feels like I’m leaving something close to my heart at the moment that the present takes a distance of the past. My stay and life in Taiwan; I still think of it being the best period in my life.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Taiwan... a paradise on earth.

We just slipped out for some time. Away from the bad weather in Belgium. Looking for some sun in the Far East. Destination: TAIWAN, where I lived and enjoyed for 20 years. Which I see as my second homeland, and now it’s back beneath my feet. The sun is still shining as 10 years ago when I left to return to my land of birth Belgium. At 6 in the morning it’s already light and around 18 PM darkness drops and it becomes completely dark very fast.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

At this moment, it’s very important that the moulting ends well. Them changing their last two or three pinions is of great importance. These are in fact the most important instruments with which our pigeons return back from a race to the loft. But those that regularly use Allimax maceraat mixed with Methio Forte (HAP), will notice that this process will finish without problems.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Feathers and more feathers, we like to see it and we don’t mind to vacuum the corridor in front of the compartments every day. It’s good for the human beings and the animals.
Those that followed our advice, will notice that the moulting goes well and without interruption. Reactions from everywhere, agree with our point of view.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

One more time about the position

I never told my wife that the position of the pigeon loft is very important to come to super results. But when I mentioned it, she immediately said :”Why did you never told me that the place you play with the pigeons, is very important for your hobby?” “Would you like to move?” she continued. This is the truth, it’s no fairy tale…

Your servant

THE LOST SON

BORIS 2200650-04

As I promised, I’m going to tell you the story of “BORIS” : 2200650-04 (see picture), father of “LEONA” : 1 National NEVERS (KBDB) and fastest against 14987 pigeons.
One day, at the beginning of 2004, we received a phone call from P.H. He just had bought the National Ace-pigeon KBDB Heavy middle distance of René Sterckx from Begijnendijk and now he could distress on the second round of youngsters 2004 of this loft. He wanted to know if I wouldn’t participate and if I still had enough space to place some more youngsters. 

Your servant

THE LOST SON

September 5th 2013 : All pigeons of BLUE HEAVEN LOFT are on their way to Gueret, the last National race on the programme of the KBDB. One more time, we’re full of expectations to watch our birds arrive home and then the season of the heavy middle distance 2013 is finished. In my previous edition, I wrote that all birds that survive the race from Gueret and that arrive in a good condition, can remain on the racing loft. Nevertheless, here with us, all racers born in 2010, are taken away from the racing loft, however it sometimes is painful. We know by experience, that +-60 heavy middle distance races in 4 years time, is the maximum what you can get out of a pigeon.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

News of “BLUE HEAVEN LOFT”
August 23rd 2013 : the temperature they announced of 27/28 degrees became reality.  A soft northern breeze makes the heat pleasant and nice.  All our pigeons are on their way to La Souterraine (576Km), the national race of the KBDB, which will be flew tomorrow. The announcements of the weather conditions aren’t very good. Variable wind but mostly coming out of the North East and that isn’t very good.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Mission accomplished… August 11th : was the weekend when the national race from ARGENTON (540Km) was on the programme. The whole racing team and all youngsters 2013 went into the basket. And I’m very proud to announce that I did what I wished for in the season 2013: ”To win a National victory” and my wish came true. Our “LILI”: 2007064-11 won 1st National Argenton against +- 6.000 pigeons.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

It’s hot outside, the sun is high in a clear blue sky, birds are looking for water but on the loft it’s rather quiet in comparison to the previous days. It all has to do with the heat and it’s also hard for our birds to endure. Even with our vaporisation system, the high temperatures are present all over and it’s not easy to let circulate the moisture degree between 50 and 60°.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Programme: It’s much easier to criticize then to take your responsibility and realise something positive. There are always “gaps” but according to me, these should be charged. When we look at the calendar for the youngsters.  Those that were careful to put in his youngsters above 300 km, will certainly not be rewarded.  What do we see?  Every week we can put them in for Soissons (200 km).  But what’s next?  Then they have to leave for Orléans, which is a distance of 400 km.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

National Argenton (540Km.). Blue Heaven Loft succeeded with 36 prizes on national level of 55 we put in; about 66%. For the first time this season, our birds spend three nights in the baskets.  To many pigeons this was the very first time. The majority of the participating pigeons (38.788, more than in 2012) had to get used to it. The organisers must have given the task to the drivers, to feed the pigeons. In the mean time, I found out that some sections chose not to feed the birds on the national races with two nights basket. The discussion about this, isn’t new.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

The preparation towards the national race from Montluçon went well. Nothing stood in our way to score well during that weekend. On the advice of my wife, I turned out all warming plates. She thought the climate was to dry on the lofts while her nose was irritated by the smell of the presence of pigeons. And I know very well that my wife has a good nose for this kind of things because when I went to another woman, she always smelled it. The result was that I always had the same soap in my pocket that we used at home. So the problem was solved.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

“BLUE HEAVEN LOFT” : We know now, that pigeons aren’t machines. It’s also clear that they need some kilometres and rhythm in their wings and that they need a good effort and pass the pain border, before they are able to pass all kinds of obstacles.  This is what we remembered on the national race from Chateauroux (512km.). It’s not that we scored bad with about 53% prizes but we started to clock 10 minutes too late to score within the national top 100.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

“BLUE HEAVEN LOFT” : Speaking about stunts… Till now, we have been very carefully with our pigeons. We didn’t force anything but waited with patience for the good weather to come. But it didn’t arrive. Our birds flew an unstable Soissons (198 Km.), but with the first national race from Bourges coming at the end of May, we finally had to send our birds to Orleans (400Km.). It was a gamble for many fanciers but it had to be done.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

May 1st … the temptation was big. The sun high in heaven but still we kept our birds at home. A cold North-East wind, 3-4 Beaufort, scared us off. Of course, we felle the tension now that everybody else is racing, some even raced Pithiviers which is already 350 km. And BLUE HEAVEN LOFT is standing nowhere. But we’re not mournful, we keep everything under control and a lot is possible with well trained birds.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Nice weather and South-South Western wind, sometimes 4-5 Beaufort; gave us the opportunity to train our racers properly. Five days in a row, we brought them at a distance of maximum 40 kilometres. But then they announced a North-Eastern wind  and cold temperatures of about 12 °Celsius and these were the reasons why we kept them at home in the weekend. Of course time and habits have changed. After such a long time of bad weather, we all want to start the season as soon as possible.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Back home again. My first assignment was to catch one’s breath. After three weeks in Taiwan and China, it felt good to sleep in my own bed, in the arms of the woman I love, the mother of my 20 year old daughter Linda.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

It’s warm outside and no wind. The sun is high in the blue sky and the temperature rose above 25°C. Spring is all around here. Flowers bloom, trees and bushes are all covered with green leaves. Butterflies dance up and down, all signs that winter is finally over. But Taipei doesn’t know a lot of winter; it’s rare that temperature falls below 10 degrees…what a difference with our weather in Belgium.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

The last time, people asked the same question over and over again: "What do you advice against Paratyphus, treat or not? Doing a previous cure with Emdotrim or Parastop and afterwards the vaccination?  What should we do?"

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Because several visits abroad and a recent rapport about the Veterinary Congress in Nitra (Slovakia), you didn’t get a lot of news about what’s happening on Blue Heaven Loft. So today we will start again. The breeding period did go very well and all youngsters of the fist round of the breeders are exploring the area by fluttering from one shelve to another. In contrast with the previous years, we didn’t let them vaccinate against Paramixo/Pox yet. Before, they were vaccinated for the first time from the moment they were weaned and afterwards, this was repeated when they were about 60 days old.  We think that because they didn’t build enough resistance at the age of 22 till 26 days, it’s better to let them vaccinate when they reached the age of 2 months. So now only one vaccination instead of two at an interval of 5-6 weeks.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

The meeting was opened by vice-chairman FCI, Mr. Horst Menzel (Germany), who warmly welcomed the present audience ,and then immediately passed the word to Dr. Ludger Kamphouser (Germany). He told us about the danger of a newly discovered disease of protozoën with pigeons , the so-called SARKOSPORIDIEN, that appears more and more with pigeons.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

During the second weekend of 2013, we flew over to Budapest in Hungary where they organised the 83rd National Days of the Hungarian Federation and we were invited as guests. This  manifestation and exhibition were in the same building ( Syma Event Centre :8.000 m² ) where they will organise in 2015, the 34th International Pigeon Olympiad from January 28th till February 1st. While we were there, we went to take a look and we saw it was good.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

As we promised in our previous article, we bring you the complete report of a recent publication. It’s our intention that everything becomes more clear about the always returning problem of the respiration of our pigeons and the herpes virus involved.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

The Hungarian parliament at the blue Danube.

Between Christmas an New Year, we took our time to make an inventory and to evaluate our racers. After this research, I can easily say that all pigeons on our racing loft, as well cocks as hens, already thrown their 10th pinion. These aren’t paired yet and this will only happen, according to our habit, on February 2nd 2013.

THE LOST SON

It’s cold outside, - 5 degrees (Celsius).  It’s misty and it snows without stopping. The visibility hardly is 2 till 300 metres. Beijing is at my feet, the immense capitol of the  Peoples Republic of China (PR China).  From my hotel room (KUNLUN), I notice the CITYMALL at the other side of the boulevard and I can also see a glimpse of  the WESTIN HOTEL, that rises high above the town.  Further, there’s also the LUFTHANSA SHOPPING CENTER. Already since 1982, we visit here minimum 1, 2 or even more a year. We know the environment and certainly the changes of the last years.

THE LOST SON

The reactions keep on coming in concerning the use of medication with pigeons.
Recently we made a remarkable conclusion about this.  During a meeting with a very big champion, who’s known for not using any medication at all, I heard following: “It’s not because I didn’t use any medication to keep my birds healthy, that I can’t or may not start using it in 2013.” Isn’t that clear enough?

Your servant

THE LOST SON

If everything stays the way they already announced, we will have 14 national races on the heavy middle distance in 2013.  To us, on BLUE HEAVEN LOFT, it will be more than 30 opportunities to win a national. 
That’s why the opening words of this article…It won’t be easy because everything has to go right but because these chances they offer, will give us a lot of opportunities. I’m not a mind-reader and I don’t want to run ahead but still I will go for it. It’ll be hard to do, that’s for sure but we have the advantage that our old and yearling birds are selected to do a race from 450 till 625 km every week again. So we will surely participate and take our chances.  With the good will and the persuasion to win another national race in 2013.  Those that live will see…

Your servant

THE LOST SON

It’s really a miracle the way our birds change their feathers. They change them all, the big ones and the small ones and this takes them a lot of energy. On those lofts, where the moulting go on without problems, you can be sure that their condition was good, certainly during that period.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

My last news report provoked many reactions. I got mails from the U.S.A, Canada, Scotland and of course from different European countries. All with the same request and question for the name of the alternative product for ZOVIRAX, which can be used in case of an invasion of the Herpes virus. There even was one person that said :”When you say “A”, you have to say “B” too.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

About two months ago, we had a visitor of an experienced scientist, a professional on the area of ornithose and viruses. Our conversation was very interesting and we learned a lot about it.

THE LOST SON

Nevertheless there are many women who think so. How many times, women dream about having good sex with interesting men.  They almost always adore to be “taken” well.
This also happens with young hens that have been separated for some time.  They walk around with a dragging tail behind each cock. They almost beg to be “taken”.  Of course, nature has its secrets and it doesn’t always show them. But when you open your eyes, you can see a lot. When you close your eyes, you seem to be blind to all miracles of nature.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

The season 2012 is finished and it wasn’t an easy one. Nevertheless we found out that you don’t loose pigeons easily on those last races when they raced every week between 350 and 650 km and normally those are the most difficult no matter the weather conditions. Isn’t this a proof that the more you play your birds, the more experience they have to return back home. Of course, with this system, several birds can’t follow and they give up at the beginning or afterwards. But you can be sure that those that keep on going, have learned their lesson and they know their way back home by heart. We don’t have to select hard because the basket did its job.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

Life on BLUE HEAVEN LOFT continues undisturbed. When you read this, our racers will have finished their very last task of the season 2012; the national race from GUERET September 8th , a distance of 537 km. The national race from La Souterraine (576km.) was a success.  As we told, we went for a place on the podium and so we did with a 3rd National with the old and the yearlings (which raced together). We succeeded with 39 of 63 pigeons within the prizes in Club de Fond de Wallonie (C.F.W.) against 2180 pigeons. This means 62% prizes, more than we normally want (60%).

Your servant

THE LOST SON

It’s hot outside, the sun burns like hell, birds .html for oxygen and water and also our pigeons sometimes lie on their side .htmling, with their wing wide open in the sun.
When you take a close look these days and observe their attitude, you can find out many things about their condition.
Of course it’s also hot on BLUE HEAVEN LOFT. More than 30° Celsius isn’t rare, even with our vaporising system, which brings some freshness and humidity on the lofts. Nevertheless, the temperature remains above the normal, even with all doors and windows open day and night, the heat remains muggy sultry and I can’t stand it.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

In our previous article, we promised to talk about the use of vitamins and a lot more. Till now, we in BLUE HEAVEN LOFT always used it in the drinking water. Mostly because it’s easier but also because we found out that our birds take it better by the drinking water then by their food.
That’s all changed now and certainly when we use vitamins.  From now on and in future we will use it in the food of our pigeons.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

We already are at the end of July…the national race from Limoges yearlings has been raced and the famous national Bourges is coming soon.
The yearlings of  BLUE HEAVEN LOFT succeeded well in their ultimate test. When you can score with 18 yearlings out of 28 on Limoges National, which is at a distance of 658 km, can’t complain.

THE LOST SON

It all goes very fast. Races follow up very fast, one after another. Enough choices but we can’t do anything about our position or the wind, we just have to accept it as it comes…
Our yearling birds and their old colleagues are getting back the good form; 6 old birds within a minute from NEVERS (451 km) gave us hope again. Not only our medical help but surely them dropping their first pinion made the change. In general they say that the top form only comes after they dropped their second pinion. We surely can expect something.

THE LOST SON

Recently they asked me following question :”What to do when the little feathers around the ears of the pigeons, aren’t tight flat  to their head?” ”It’s a sure fact that these pigeons are disadvantaged in the race.” The man who qsked that question, noticed this with several pigeons by basketing in his club.

Your servant

THE LOST SON

We’re already half June : the racing season runs fast. The first races of 2012 weren’t the easiest. Wind at their head and speeds between 1100 and 1200 m/m gave several lost everywhere. Specially from Bourges National, there seemed to be many pigeons which didn’t find their way back home, among these even some experienced racers. With cold wind at the head, the un experienced pigeons always have difficulties.

THE LOST SON

BLUE HEAVEN LOFT :
The week-end (19/05) before Bourges (26/05), our pigeons had to race Orléans (400km.). All birds went along in preparation to the first national race. We had the worst day of our life, never experienced before. It was a very big disappointment. The happier we were last week, the bigger the disappointment. Only a few small prizes and nothing else. The introduction of the last article :”Those that are happy about their victory yesterday, will have nothing to be proud of tomorrow.” So this also applies to us.

THE LOST SON

It was Friday morning, the sun was shining early and there was not one cloud in the sky. The old and yearlings were already in the basket for a race from TOURY( 373 Km.).  Today would be ideal to start driving our youngsters of 2012. “Let’s do it” said my wife, while she put on her blue overall and I agreed. I put on my overall too, which is a daily ritual. Our pigeons are used to this and so they aren’t afraid, although they sometimes are without my usual blue overall, to do some inspection to see if their droppings are normal.

THE LOST SON

In 2011, during spring races, we had unexpected visit. A vet from Flanders had to be in our neighbourhood and he asked if I had time to talk.  As usual I was very curious. We talked about many things and most certainly about our pigeons.  What was the main subject?

THE LOST SON

Blue Heaven Loft : Wednesday April 11th… good weather conditions.
Finally, it’s happening. Because we have the possibility, we gratefully used the opportunity. We took away all our racers (about 72) at a distance of +- 15 km. There was a West-South Western wind with the power of 3 Beaufort. The sun was shining but now and then some dangerous clouds passed by. Our racers are divided on 5 compartments. Baskets of our Cabine-express are brought to the loft upstairs by the elevator and when these are filled, they go downstairs the same way. This operation takes about 10 minutes because our pigeons are driven into the baskets.

THE LOST SON

Life is as it is on “BLUE HEAVEN LOFT”
Nevertheless, spring began with a lot of sunshine and temperatures of +- 20° Celsius, with morning and night temperatures around 5°Celsius, there always is this nasty East-North-East wind of 3 Beaufort. This kept us from leaving with the old and yearling birds. Don’t forget that this returns every year again and spring without storm is like women without good shape. 

THE LOST SON

Reaction on Paratyphus : 
As we already mentioned, on BLUE HEAVEN LOFT, all racers; old birds and yearlings included the hens which are played on double widowhood, have being vaccinated against Paratyphus. Before we did a cure of 10 days and one after the treatment of 5 days with Emdotrim. This treatment in preparation to the vaccination, is very important. We didn’t see any pigeon that had problems after the vaccination with COLOMBOVAC(Paratyphus) of the firm Pfizer. Nevertheless all pigeons were a little bit calmer for a few days but they didn’t seem to have real problems.

THE LOST SON

We keep on experimenting because that’s the only way to learn. When you always ride the same horse, it becomes dull and that’s what I want to avoid. This year we started darkening one week earlier as usual. We want to start sooner with our youngsters but that’s easier said than done. In the past, we started darkening on March 1st till the beginning of May with our old and yearling birds. With the youngsters we stopped in the middle of the month of June. But in 2012, this period will become shorter, especially towards the national races, which are on the calendar at the end of May. 

THE LOST SON

It’s still very cold outside but it seems that the hardest part has passed. There’s hope again in the hart of many fanciers with all the youngsters on the roof, this hope is real. New horizons appear again when spring begins; nature will come alive and will recover of the cold weather of the past weeks. During these cold temperatures, I visited my second home , Taiwan for 10 days.

THE LOST SON

In one of our previous editions, we said that people talk a lot about sex but they don’t do it enough…
Well, coincidence or not.  A professor at the University of Leuven had a research about sex in general. By an appeal by a television program, he reached about 100.000 people, who wanted to participate to this research. By all their answers, he got to a very interesting conclusion, which you could read in several newspapers, on television or may be on some radio stations. The result of this research showed, that we weekly have only one time sex, not 3 times as they usually say. Of course, this is a conclusion based on statistics and as we all know, this isn’t always the exact reality. But still, it shows that the sex life of the average Belgian, is going down. What could be the reason?

THE LOST SON

Most of our youngsters 2012, the first round of the breeder, are born with full moon. We didn’t plan this but it just happened. We couldn’t pair them earlier because we were very busy in that period with all kinds of pigeon-happenings, as well in our own country as abroad, among which three times in China. In fact too much to be good. But what do you want…it’s not easy to respond negative when you get the proposal. Of course, I must admit that I still like to belong to the pigeon world, so I can’t complain. It is and it was our own decision to be away from home regularly, always for at least a few days. My wife got used to it to spend some times alone in our bed, she likes to get some rest now and then and it’s good for her to build up some new energy. Of course it’s not good to do this too often because as you know: “When the cat’s away, the mice dance.” And sex is just like faith, they talk a lot about it but they don’t practise enough. It’s also a fact that people lie a lot about sex, most of them even lie during sex. Women can fake an orgasm and men a whole relation… But…we weren’t talking about that, so lets just get on…

THE LOST SON

The pairing of our breeders during the second week of December 2011 didn’t go as well as in 2010. The reason was easy to understand. If you take away all breeders, which were born in 2003 and 2004, you know they have to be replaced by younger and more dynamic forces. This isn’t an easy job to do. Luckily my wife, who is very patient, knew how to put everything in the right direction. Aren’t I a lucky man? I learned a lot of a life of 20 years in Taiwan. I also learned that when you’re looking for a beautiful, nice and clever woman, you don’t look for one but for three. A good advice: look out for a economical woman for yourself even i fit takes you a pair of shoes. Don’t forget that a woman is only beautiful when she’s more beautiful naked than half-naked.  I know now by experience, that one woman isn’t enough but three is too much.

THE LOST SON

Cobbler stay with your job...

Just one more time, I will give some information about the vaccination against Paratyphus, at request. We personally prefer the vaccination COLOMBOVAC PT of the Firm PFIZER. The shortage of the product and later on also the price were the reason why some scientists looked for an alternative, which they found. Remarquable that we received some more questions about this product, with some comment. That’s the reason why we would like to explain by this way.

THE LOST SON

Necessity is the mother of ingenuity

Those that didn’t pair already, may need some advice. Especially old hens sometimes have some problems to lay their first round of eggs. Some time ago, before pairing, we used to give a cure with Ampicilline but now this isn’t no longer available. So we had to find an alternative. Not easy to do because the use of antibiotics becomes very difficult the last few years and then it’s up to the vet to search a solution. We can’t that much any more, without his interference.

THE LOST SON

Finally, the vaccination product against the Paramixo Virus, Colombovac PMV ( 10ml/50 doses) and Colombovac, Paramixo/Pox will be in the running again by the firm Pfizer. It’s necessary to get in contact with your vet and make an appointment, so he can vaccinate your pigeons as soon as possible. You can imagine, after such a long time of waiting, that everybody want to be helped as soon as possible. It’s an obligation, this vaccination against Paramixo. But when there’s not enough vaccination product, there’s nothing you can do as a fancier. Isn’t this a task for our leaders of the KBDB? They should be able to do something about it. They know the proper authorities and they can explain the need of the Paramixo Virus vaccination. Hopefully this will all soon be solved and they will be no more shortage of the product in the near future. All they have to do is make sure that there will be a balance between the demand and the offer.  When is the best time to vaccinate?

THE LOST SON

Last time we talked about searching and selecting pigeons for our winter breed. I feel the need to add something very important. I forgot (with us it happens automatic) to point to the evaluation of the wing.  We must be sure that the pigeon doesn’t have split feathers in their wing. I will try to explain this process as good as possible.

THE LOST SON

It’s not always easy to make a choice. I always used to say : when you chose between two things, you have one thing but you’ll miss the other. When you want to do winter breed, you’ll have to deal with this. When we select pigeons to breed with, we follow this system: first we catch all pigeons and put them in the baskets. We move them from the open aviary to a space underneath the loft, where they have to stay for about at least two hours. We make sure the pigeons are in the dark so they don’t start to fight and they are much calmer. My wife always helps out every year again.  She’s very handy in catching pigeons: she takes them out of the basket one by one and passes them on to me. Normally they always say : “Where the trousers talk, skirts have to be quiet”.

THE LOST SON

Vaccination Paratyphus again on the market.

It took a while and when you wait for something, it always takes longer as expected. Our patience is rewarded and we’re glad to announce that the vaccination product COLOMBOVAC  PARATYPHUS is back on the market. We already called our vet Raf HERBOTS several times to ask about the availability of the vaccination product.  We prefer to vaccinate as quickly as possible, 6 till 8 weeks before the start of the winter breed. By experience we learned that this period is necessary to prevent clear eggs. Our vet became a bit irritated by our phone calls and he told me: “If I can’t get the product, no one can in Belgium.” 

THE LOST SON

September 29 th  2011 : today, day to day one year ago, my friend Willem from Holland called me and said: ”Congratulations with your birthday but don’t forget that today is the start of the last term of your life.”  At this moment, one year later, he called again, asking how I was doing and how I felt. 

THE LOST SON

We’re very impressed and yes, also disappointed about what happened the last time. The last national race of 2011 from Gueret (571 km), the finish of the season 2011, didn’t bring BLUE HEAVEN LOFT what we expected. All our devotion and hard work concerning the care-taking and the guidance, didn’t make us win.  When you aim for perfection, you have to know that not all roads are smooth. The stunt we expected to finish 2011, didn’t come.

THE LOST SON

In my previous article, I made a promise. Hereby I made many fanciers very curious. In fact, curiousity is a quality of women and you find that out, much too late. It was like that with me and I’m sure with many among you all. That’s the way women are and my ex wasn’t different. Be careful because when you go out with them, they love you a little, once you get married, they love you a lot and when you divorce, they keep everything from you. That’s the same with love, it’s like a flashing pole, you don’t expect it and it costs a lot of money. But now back to my promise, I can’t get out of it anymore. Although my wife wasn’t very pleased when she heard that I was going to explain how we play with the pigeons on “BLUE HEAVEN LOFT”.

THE LOST SON

“Blue Heaven loft” : the pigeons are doing well. Didn’t I say before that they were ready to go to the national race from Argenton (540 km) And when you succeed to score with 7 pigeons in the national top 100 against more than 30.000 pigeons, old-yearlings and youngsters together, you can’t complain. In the meantime, we brought all old and yearling birds on nest, which is spectacular every year again. After Bourges National (31/7), all racers were left together to end up in the basket after 4 nights (on drift and hunting), for a race from Blois (454 km), in preparation for Argenton (550 km). On Monday, the week before Argenton, we gave them eggs.

THE LOST SON

The national race from Bourges at the end of July had its course. Still it was a bad race. Everybody knew that on Saturday, the day of release, the weather wouldn’t be good in Belgium, all weather reports agreed about the bad weather conditions.  Still they released the pigeons, nothing against it but much too late. How many times didn’t I already tell that if they want to set the pigeons free with bad weather, they should do it as soon as possible. No, they waited till 9.30 to set the birds free. Conclusion…a bad race and many pigeons, which spend the night outside with all its consequences. Nevertheless, the weather was good and also the visibility was good, which we could see on television. Why didn’t they release the pigeons at 7.00 a.m.?

THE LOST SON

Last time I talked about my good friend Peter Trost from Essingen (Germany). Peter is going to be a fancier again, after an interruption of several years because of his journey around the world. I talked to you about how he saw everything, think over and how he put his decisions and brought them to a good end. I just want to add something, to be complete.

THE LOST SON

Recently, BLUE HEAVEN LOFT was visited by Peter Trost from Essingen (Germany). Before he lived in Aalen, not so far away from Stuttgart. He’s the man who travelled all over the world in his ADVENTURE 3, over sees and oceans. But above all, he’s also an obsessed fancier. Peter is a friend of us for many years now, from the time of Union Antwerp, the university of the pigeon sport in those days, when they celebrated their champions in the Arena in Deurne. Those were the days of the “DOKUS” of René Somers from Oelegem. By coincidence René, Peter and me are all born in the blessed year 1935.

THE LOST SON

I had a long conversation with Jean-Louis Jorissen Pharmacist of Comed, about his new product RONI. (Regular Oligosaccharides for Normalizing the Intestin)

It became a story about pre-, pro-, and antibiotics all playing a role in the well-known framework of his mission: The Resistance Selection Method, without antibiotics. Together with Willem De Bruijn, I had numerous long conversations about this approach. Willem was an early believer of the method. Himself being a dentist and his wife a doctor, both medical academic educated, where already long time ago, convinced the abuse of antibiotics could not continue like that.

THE LOST SON

Wind, direction and the masse make the result.  This used to be and it’s still the case in 2011. When you don’t agree, you can call me. We had three weeks of middle distance behind us. The first two with an Eastern wind and what did we see? All top-prizes were won by fanciers who live at the West of the line.

THE LOST SON

A few days ago, my wife heard me cursing till inside the house. “What’s wrong now?” she asked when I came inside. “I was angry because two hens show some lesbian movements and they were sitting together in a corner.” I answered. “It’s in their nature and you can’t do anything about it” she replied.

A few days ago, my wife heard me cursing till inside the house. “What’s wrong now?” she asked when I came inside. “I was angry because two hens show some lesbian movements and they were sitting together in a corner.” I answered. “It’s in their nature and you can’t do anything about it” she replied.

White gloves : it’s a habit of mine, always wearing white gloves when I’m taking care of my birds, in and around the loft. I started it when I returned to Belgium at the end of 2002. I’m sure you wonder why? Well, I will only tell at the end of this story.

Here on BLUE HEAVEN LOFT, everything goes very well with the pigeons. The beautiful weather of the last few days also has an impact on us. All racers and some late youngsters of 2010 were brought away by car a couple of times. In between, we also cleared them from Ectoparasites and this with only one drop.

The racers and the youngsters are vaccinated at the beginning of March and I noticed that some of them had some inconvenience. Did you notice it too? Normally we keep our vaccinated pigeons inside for a few days but because of the good weather, my wife prefered to open the loft so they could get outside and inside.

We all know for sure that women like sex and pigeons like peanuts.  That’s what I experienced when I lived in Taiwan as a single man.  There’s a song that says: “A bachelor only goes to sleep when he saw the stars, when he enjoyed his freedom, when he says it was nice, thanks and goodbye.”

What’s going on in” BLUE HEAVEN LOFT” : we’re already half February…time goes fast.  During the 32nd Olympiad of 28-30.01.2011 in Poznan, Poland, we saw that our sport is still living, most certainly in the Eastern countries where the number of members are still rising. Finally a positive thing within our beloved sport and hobby.

Latin proverb written by the Roman poet Horatius.
Who, more than me can talk about this?

Hens that lay an egg… Didn’t you notice that yearling hens and those of two years old, which have to race more than 40 weeks on the Heavy middle distance, are eager to start a family.

The new year only just started and I already had bad points. My wife and I still were in bed, dark as hell but both awake, without saying anything…Till suddenly she broke the silence…And do you know what she said? You wouldn’t think it is possible but it was.  She literaly said: ”Michel, I think there’s not enough fresh air on the racing loft…”.

In BLUE HEAVEN LOFT everything goes by plan. We’re ringing a lot although there are still some couples that were a bit later by laying eggs, which don’t have any youngsters. But I’m sure they will follow. There was only a short period of giving light and that what we feel now. Hereby again the prove that the condition of our pigeons depend on THREE important.htmlects: the play between LIGHT and DARK, the TEMPERATURE (heath) and the MOISTURE on the loft...

Zoutleeuw: December 22nd, 2010
It's quiet at "BLUE HEAVEN LOFT". All the birds are breeding ... Every day we have given the birds some short-cut hay. It is quite a lot of fun to see how some birds willingly use it. The back and forth flying sharpens their swiftness and they find their way home almost blindly afterwards. But all that busy work and that back and forth flying with straw also teaches us a lot about the character and attachment to the nest that our birds are building. So we’d better watch out ...

Let me summarize and return to what has happened since mid-September 2010 (end of the racing season) at Blue Heaven Loft.

After the microscopic and bacteriological tests for all pigeons, I went off for a while ...