Kyleakin Lofts

Looks a good setup.

Happy birthday.

Good morning all.

Happy birthday.

Good morning all.

Happy birthday.

Good morning all.

Welcome to the site.

HANS KNETSCH, 1st NARBONNE FC.â€DE GLAZEN STAD†ALSO 1st NATIONAL Z.L.U AND 2nd INTERNATIONAL NARBONNE IN 2009 Finally! Hans Knetsch, from Katwijk a/d Rijn, made it to first in a National. This is great news. He has come so close so often, but something seemed to have gone wrong every time. To win a first in a National, you need to have everything going for you: optimum form, the weather, the wind and then that little bit of luck around the corner. For Hans, that last bit of luck did not seem to come around until now. Two years ago, Hans raced “Jopie†from Irun. Against a very tough Western wind, Jopie came so close but just could not make those last few meters to a first place. Last year, on Marseille, Jopie tried again and was the only pigeon on the coast still going against all predictions, but again the same Westerly gale kept her from victory. This year, she simply could not do it as Hans had put her in the breeding loft. And then the drama with “Maarten†during the International. Maarten with ring number NL07- 17199301 made an emergency landing on the sputnik (an inflight landing plank with a one way trapdoor) and literally had a head-on collision with the (closed) door latch. Completely dazed he sat there without being able to go in. As luck would have it, just before Maarten was to land, a young polish bird had landed on the sputnik. Hans saw the bird, opened the latch to pick it up and forgot to reset the door for Maarten. Afterwards Hans found out that this mistake had cost him a first place in the International by only two centimeters!! It actually was during this very interview that the phone rang to tell Hans the good news of being 2nd and the bad news of the 2 centimeters. It will take Maarten a while to forgive Hans for this. Nevertheless, he is a champ with an impressive score of 2 first and one second place. “Maarten†was clocked at 19.51.06 hours on a distance of 1012 km (629 miles) at a speed of 1330 m. He is a dark white flight cock and he was played on widowhood from the small “Sloothokje†where twelve widowers are housed. Hans owns a fantastic breeding pair. Two young from this couple, the 01- 1681783 “Leendert†a cock is the father of “Maarten†and his sister the 01- 1681782 is the mother of “Jopieâ€. The mother of “Maarten†and the father of "Jopie†are direct descendants of “Kweekmoedertje†(little breeding mother). This “Kweekmoedertje†is a Batenburg hen, received from Gerard Dekker of Assendelft. This bird greatly helped to bring speed into the Wanroys of Hans. After his victory Maarten, together with his hen, has moved to Batenburg van der Merwe. Hans is turning 75 years on the 1st of September. He plays with 36 widowers and 25 nest couples and keeps around 60 young for himself. He also owns 15 breeding pairs. These are predominantly birds that have earned their spurs through successful flights. Hans has helped many enthusiasts start up e.g. Willem van der Velden, who has started his complete first round with birds from Hans. Besides Willem, there are so very many fanciers who thank their success to Hans that the list would be too long for this article. This weekend was a big success for the Fond Club “De Glazen Stadâ€. Piet Overkleeft won 1st National Tarbes in sector 2 by a long lead and Hans Knetsch the 1st National Z.L.U. and 2nd International Narbonne. Piet and Hans heartiest congratulations on behalf of the committee of the Fond Club “De Glazen Stadâ€.

Good morning all.

I remember reading, but can't remember where, that it is the chicks pipping that brings on the milk. Possibly Fit to Win by Wim Peters.

Happy birthday.

Welcome to the site.

Good morning all.

Couldn't let them out. I would never have seen them.

Very misty here Archie, visibility down to around 200 metres.

Happy birthday.

Good morning all.

Never bothered to float eggs, except for racing purposes, but this seems to make sense.

Paul, you'll get loads of different answers, but if they are not eating the maples, they probably haven't been used to getting them. Ask whomever gave you the pigeons what they feed. Other than that it is trial and error, but they often don't eat maize at that time either. Some feed pellets and barley. I feed channel mix, pellets and all round, but the channel mix has maples. Used to feed tic beans. It is just the fanciers preference. You need to find what suits you.

Looks a cracker, best of luck with her.

Looking good.

Good morning all.

Well said Frank.

Good to hear.