Ad Schaerlaeckens, writer of the world famous "Janssen Book", hundreds of magazine articles, and a successful web site, is featured in Jim Jenner's 2009 complimentary video accompanying the "Secrets of Champions IV" Paccom video.
When discussing this video with an acquaintance, it was mentioned that the video had little content. I'm fortunate to own a large library consisting of hundred's of sport related videos, books, and magazines, and consider this Schaerlaeckens interview as one of the best videos in my collection!
I hope this bullet review will prove this is a must own video to be watched several times. Be sure to buy two copies, and pass one to a friend.
- Some of the BEST birds have been FREE
- Breed many, race many, and eliminate many
- Get rid of the bad ones, sell the good ones, and breed from the SUPERS
- Introduce new blood from lofts with heavy competition
- Every two years buy 4-5 young ones from a new source, or a round if you have the room
- Let the breeder select the pairing, they know their birds best
- Ad owns several breeding sections and describes how he pairs up
- Paper doesn't make a good pigeon
- Big name lofts usually share birds between them
- If a pair produces one SUPER, they're considered a good breeding pair
- Ad can't pick a good one, but certainly can eliminate the bad ones
- A bad one has no natural health, no balance, and does not possess soft feathers
- The birds that have the most difficulty flying up after a bath should be eliminated
- There's no Magic Pills or Powders
- Garlic and Vinegar, but not during racing
- Be a good observer
- We pay too much attention to details that don't matter, forget the small stuff
- Beware of the Power of Media / Internet, everyone has a motive within their message, pretty websites sell more pigeons, 80% of the Old Belgian Lofts don't own a computer
- Animal Protection shut down the world famous ORLEANS, FRANCE race, said event tortured birds
- Loft design, function, and essentials is discussed
- Loft must promote natural immunity
- Loft should be dry, no smell, provide fresh air, and be warm
- Corn Cobs as floor dressing
- Ad's very simple feeding program
- Fresh grit every second day
- Train your young birds with selected old birds
- Peanuts, Grit, and Small Seeds are placed on his trapping antenna for returning race birds
- Don't leave basketed birds in the sun
- Don't ship birds that have a crop full of water
- Create jealousy by mixing up your widowhood pairs prior to shipping
- Don't use the same jealousy tricks every week
- Droppers to help trap returning racers
- Light manipulation for young and old birds
- Darken 6-8 weeks from Mid-March, with a total day light of 9 1/2 to 10 hours
- YB's come into super form two weeks after darkening system stopped
- Racing Hens the new STRONG SEX
- Breeding / Selection criteria Natural Health Vs. Speed
- Everyone complains they have a bad location, and the toughest competition
- Enjoy your birds, but don't sacrifice family or events
- Learn to spend less time with your birds
- Gain Success thru balance of good birds, health, loft, handler, observation, and selection
- Usually the fanciers with poor results are the ones using the most medications
- Good Vet's only prescribe medication when required
- When treating ailments, never use the same drug for three years
- Salmonella treatment won't interfere with the moult
- Don't needle during moult, best time to needle is 5-6 weeks prior to breeding
- Adeno and Ad's cure
- Giving medications during winter vs summer
