Method 

The feed stock is widely held.  

Feeding. Until 2010 Mariman mixtures were supplied to the pigeons. The mixtures which were sold under the name "Complete".  In 2010 these mixtures of Mariman are no longer available so it is time for change. I still doubt whether I should choose for Versele Lage or Beyers. I am experimenting with my breeding stock with those brands. I must admit that the look of the Versele Laga Subliem mixture is perfect.
The pigeons get the same feed composition since 2003. Yearly is slightly varied, but the basis remains the same. Especially in 2008 I experimented with a different composition. This high-fat mixture did not meet the expectations, so for 2009 was
reverted to the old system. The old and the young birds get the same mix.
This basic mixture consists of:
Sports Mixture 3 parts (3 kg)
Champions mixture 2 parts (so called Zoontjes mixture)  (2 kg)
Depurative mixture 1 part (with only 11 percent barley, 1 kg).
To this mixture is added:
Sneaky mixture 1 / 2 part (fine seed mixture, 500 grams),
Peanuts 1 / 2 part (500 grams suited for human consumption),
Hempseed  1 / 4 part (250 grams),
Canary seed part 1 / 4 (250 grams).
This mixture is given to the pigeons all year. Provided that the Sports Mix in the breeding time is replaced by breeding mixture and in the moulting period by a moulting mixture. From the moment the birds no longer fly the peanuts disappear from the diet. This is usually several weeks after the racing season when "the stock" is exhausted.  

Feeding in cups 

During the racing season the feed mix will be adjusted, depending on the distance. The longer the distances gets,  the mix is made 'heavier'.

Races till 100 kilometres the basic mix is supplied till 1 meal before basketing. At the last meal the Championmix Purification and Depurative mix is replaced by Sport mixture. The so called ‘heavy blend’. The number of meals of  the 'heavy blend' (the name is wrong because it is mainly rich in corn, peas are not in the mix) is increased with increasing the number of kilometres to be flown.

I.e. until 200 kilometres 2 meals,

up to 300 kilometres 3 meals,

4 meals at 400 kilometers.

From 500 kilometres is all days 'heavy' effect.

At that time of the season in which the one day long distance races are flown the pigeons get also a handful of Energy-mix (fat rich) after feeding the last couple of days before basketing. Of course, an eye is kept on the weather. With light winds, the basic mix will be provided longer.

The cocks are feed in their nest box. Daily till Wednesday evening, morning and evening, a spoon (large size potato spoon), on Wednesday evening 2 spoons, on Thursday morning 1 spoon, on Thursday evening 2 spoons and Friday morning at 3 tablespoons per cup in the next box. The hens are fed in the feeding trough. The amount is roughly fixed, but is adjusted when they are hungry. In any case, the hens receive less feed than the cocks.  

Food supplements and medicines.  

Medically there is nothing left to chance. For advice with problems, or any preventive actions Nanne Wolff (Hattemerbroek) is consulted. The vaccinations, etc are carried out by Hans van der Sluijs (Kockengen). Besides the chemical part the pigeons get all necessary food supplements. In 2009, for the first time very successfully elderberry treacle was provided to the youngsters after the early spring-coli problems emerged again and did not disappear  

The old birds spend the winter on perches, easily to be mounted to next box    

MOULTING / WINTER: The sexes remain together for long a time. In general, the sexes are parted late November, early December. This keeps the pigeons well connected and it also creates new couples. In the new year they don’t 'worry' about the former partner. The late separation is not a problem in terms of planning because the racing pigeons are not mated early.    

In winter, the little pigeons don’t fly because of the presence of birds of prey and a lack of time available prey. The aviaries offer solace.   

Many oxygen and a safe opportunity to take a bath. In the period between late November and the end of the racing season the whole pigeon loft is made available. Old and young, then walk together. Only the part of the loft where during the summer the hen’s house is a 'forbidden' area. By this method, the youngsters already get accustomed to their new home before the sexes separate.   

Pigeons Tea. One year it's made, the other year it ‘s not!

During the moulting period as much as possible is done to get the pigeons prosperous through the moult. They get Sedochol 2 days a week in the water, a Vitamin Complex 2 days and 2 days apple vinegar with garlic. In 2009, to the water mixes an additional variant has been added. In a cycle of 8 days the pigeons got also 2 days a resolution of the Oregano oil by water. After a successful use in the breeding loft (in the moulting period) this method is also applied to the racers. It means better 'natural' health.  

Nest bowls, ready for use. Breeders ate mated between December 1st and January 1st. 

This years breeding season will be early. The breeders were mated early December. Target is a to breed an early round. Given the large number of "breeding couples" at Beekman-Tilmans is not bred from the racers. Only the eggs of the best racers are replaced when ever possible. The racers breed in recent years only once. The first years in Aalsmeer, the flight team was mated two times, but in recent years, lack of time (and the ever earlier start date of the races) prevented this.    

The young squad likes to stay on the almost flat roof of the breeding loft They don’t fly or hardly 

SPRING. The youngsters have to get to know their habitat. Because off the rural environment is possible to give the pigeons a open loft. After several weeks in the weekends and a few days "under supervision", the youngsters are released every day before leaving for work. I.e. they are 'excluded' from the main loft, but can enter the aviaries. In the evening when Michel gets home, the actual loft is opened and the pigeons are to be called inside.  

The young squad is outside daily. In bad weather ....  

and in the nice weather ... the fire chimney is their favourite spot 

The youngsters need to develop well. Much freedom aids to this. The daily open loft makes the youngsters thoroughly familiar with the surroundings. The present birds of prey take cause some inevitable damage, but at the same time ensure that the pigeons are active continuously. They also make the young birds sharply, because after some time they know many safe seats to escape their enemies. For example, in the aviary, but also underneath it is. One problem is that after some time they are unwilling to leave the save aviaries ......   

Training, the cocks fly twice a day! Like the young pigeons in the racing season

The old birds are released daily from early March. As the daylight and temperature allow this the cocks fly in the morning between 07:00 and 08:00 hours. All pigeons are force to train with the flag.  

The Hens fly once a day, at night!  

The hens train between 17:30 and 19:00 hours depending on when Michel returns from work. The ladies fly mandatory. Within one week they fly one hour. Some fine seed before their daily training helps to achieve this. Once the season is approaching the cocks fly twice a day. Often, through the (too) early start 1 or 2 weeks holiday have to be taken to achieve this. After the Vitesse the cocks only fly once a day (or a few days times 2). When de young birds are under control the fly twice a day!.  

Tossing/training the youngsters! A lot of effort is put into this. Ten times away by car, up to 35 kilometres   

When the young pigeons are pulling well around the loft for a couple of weeks, tossing is started. The date this occurs varies from year to year. Last year (2009) tossing was again started very late. In April, many health problems with harassed the pigeons. Only in May they for the first time went well on their wings. In the second week of June the young birds were first tossed. In a period of 10 days, the Young squad (140 pieces) was brought 7 times away. Initially only a few kilometers, more gradually the distances were increased. In the last week before the first race, the pigeons Tuesday and Wednesday were brought to Boskoop, Gouda. The losses in 2008 were low, in 2009 they were dreadful, because of bad weather conditions at their maiden race and the impact of the smallpox vaccination.  

The container is not used, the younsters go directly to the first race   

Like fellow club member and friend Cor Buis junior the youngsters no longer participate in the training races of the department. At Both the old and young pigeons, this method was first applied in the 2008 season (with the youngsters was already common practice at the so called ‘Navluchten’). No adverse effects of this were met.  

The young pigeons are taught to drink in the basket at the start of their racing career . 

There is great importance attached to drinking in the basket. The youngsters are taught this specially. When the department first training flight in the program is scheduled, the young pigeons of Beekman-Tilmans remain in the basket. Not to fly, but to drink. Two to three days they stay in the baskets. Twice daily, the youngsters are fed in the basket. The water is pored from some height into the drinking troughs so that they can hear the water falling. Depending on the temperature inside the young birds learn to drink within on day. After the drinking course the pigeons are released at the association.  

Darkening!  The old birds also! After this the lights are switched on!   

At the lofts of Beekman-Tilmans both the old and the young birds are darkened. The daily duration of the darkening period is always al littele difficult. 14 hours for all pigeons is impossible given the working hours. In practice, cocks and hens 13 hours are darkened and the young birds a spacious 13.5 hours. The lights burn all day after removing the covers. Using daylight lamps. Fluorescent tubes with a luminary that provides such high frequency that the pigeons have no problems with the blinking  After the longest day the lights burning from morning 5:30 am till 22:45 hour at night.  

In hot weather the youngsters are in the aviaries during the racing.

SUMMER. In the hot summer months, maximum oxygen is made available. In case of temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius the youngsters are locked aviaries. The hens are standard in the dense and sheltered aviary. At the cocks, the windows open. Sun also may be excluded by the present blinds. These were originally for darkening (but this is now done with shutters) so now they act as a sunscreen on hot days. Around the Christmas holidays the old aviaries will be replaced by larger and improved aviaries of the firm Habru. The aim is to improve and to better regulate the climate in the aviaries. For example by the use of windbreak grid.