|
Zoontjens feeding system
- Yellow- and Blue Mixtures
When father Jan Zoontjens started
as a pigeon fancier, more than 50 years ago, he was always
studying about the food and the feeding system for pigeons.
As a guide he used the Dutch booklet "Voeding en Duiven"
(Feeding and Pigeons), written by late author Arie v.d.
Hoek.
Together with his own experiences in this matter he developed
feeding mixtures of his own. The first mixture was a so-called
'Basic Mixture' and existed of all kind of grains and seeds.
The other mixture did exist of legumes and maize.
|
The
idea for those mixtures was born while father Jan did
sift the trading mixtures. The grains and seeds were
fed in the beginning of the week, while the legumes
and maize were fed several days before the pigeons were
basketing.
Later on the mixtures were completed and calculated
for food values.
In the meantime these two mixtures are placed upon the
market by firm Beyers in Belgium. These two mixtures
are known as the "Basic Mixture" or the "Yellow
Mixture" and the other one is the "Blue Mixture". |
|
 |
|
The mixtures exist of following ingredients. (% Proportions)
| The Yellow Mixture
("Basic Mixture") |
|
The "Blue Mixture"
|
| Wheat |
21,17 % |
|
Cribs/La Plata maize |
30 % |
| Dari-Sorghum |
26,67 % |
|
Maize special |
20 % |
| Cardy |
13,33 % |
|
Maize Popcorn |
10 % |
| Tares |
9,67 % |
|
Green Peas |
15 % |
| Lentils |
8,33 % |
|
Maple Peas |
10 % |
| Milocorn |
8,33 % |
|
Sojabeans toasted |
15 % |
| Katjan Idjoe (Mung beans) |
6,67 % |
|
|
|
| Paddy rice |
3,33 % |
|
|
|
| Buckwheat |
2,50 % |
|
|
|
Throughout the years these mixtures always have been used
in the lofts in Riel.
In consultation with the supplier of these mixtures several
percentages of have been adjusted to improve the necessary
balance of several of the ingredients.
These mixtures have become public from the moment on Wal
did introduce these mixtures in the market by firm Beyers.
In the meantime the "Yellow Mixture" has become
|
 |
part of a basic feeding method
by many pigeon fanciers all over the world.
During the winter Wal feeds all his pigeons a mixture
of:
1/3 part of the Zoontjens Basic "Yellow Mixture"
1/3 part Breeding Mixture, and
1/3 part of Barley
When the pigeon are mated they get that same mixture
till they have to feed chicks of 6 days onwards. Then
they will also receive a mixture of 50% of Breeding
- and 50% Zoontjens "Basic Mixture" additional
in their nestbox. |
|
|
The young birds also get this mixture
(50% Breeding / 50% Zoontjens "Basic Mixture")
after they are weaned from their parents. When the young
birds have an age of three months, they will get these 3
parts mixture (1/3 Zoontjens "Basic Mixture",
1/3 Breeding, 1/3 Barley).
With this mixture the young birds fly the races till 300
km in an excellent way. When the 300 km races are passed
the Barley will be left out and the young birds get the
mixture 50% Breeding / 50% Zoontjens "Basic Mixture".
The result obtained in the races when using this 33% parts
mixture and the 50% mixture afterwards, are spectacular
and even national races were won.
In 1994 Wal and Hans won the famous national young bird
race Orleans and in 1999 they won the national Etampes.
In following scheme we will try to give an overview of the
feeding system for the widowhood cocks during the several
of disciplines and distances.
Feeding scheme for widowhood cocks
- Short Distance (from 80 to 300
km). The widowhood cocks are basketing on Friday evening
and stay in the basket for just one night.
- Middle distance (from 300 to 500
km). The widowhood cocks are basketing on Thursday evening
and will stay in the basket for two days.
- One-day races (from 500 to 700
km). The widowhood cocks are basketing on Thursday evening
and will stay in the basket for two days.
| Saturday |
• |
This is the day the widowhood cocks arriving
at the home loft. In their box they will get the "Basic
Mixture" till they are satisfied.In the meantime
the widowhood hens go back to the aviary, where they
will stay during the week. They mostly get only Barley
to eat. When the race was under warm circumstances,
at arrival the widowhood cocks also receive electrolyte
in the water. For the rest of the day they rest and
recover. |
| Sunday |
• |
In the morning (every morning)
All widowhood cocks will receive a handful of the "Basic
Mixture". The amount is to be compared with the
amount on a spoon. When there are still some hungry
widowhood cocks, Wal will feed some small amounts of
Barley on the floor till these widowhood cocks are satisfied
too. |
| |
• |
In the evening |
| |
|
On Short-, Middle distances and One-day races: All
widowhood cocks get a handful of the "Basic Mixture".
Remark: All the widowhood cocks, which fly
the One-day races, get this "Basic Mixture"
also in the evening during the week they stay at home.
After this week Wal follows this scheme.
|
| Monday |
• |
In the morning A handful of "Basic
Mixture" |
| |
• |
In the evening |
| |
|
• |
On Short- and Middle Distances: a handful
of "Basic Mixture". |
| |
|
• |
On One-day races: depending of the distance
the widowhood cocks has to fly on the next race, Wal
already starts to feed the Blue Mixture. The widowhood
cocks have to eat all they get and are satisfied. |
| Tuesday |
• |
In the morning A handful of "Basic
Mixture" |
| |
• |
In the evening |
| |
|
• |
On Short Distance: a handful of "Basic
Mixture". |
| |
|
• |
On the Middle Distance and One-day races:
the Blue Mixture. Again the widowhood cocks have to
eat all they get and are satisfied. |
| Wednesday |
• |
In the morning A handful of "Basic
Mixture" |
| |
• |
In the evening |
| |
|
On the Short-, Middle Distance
as well as on the One-day races: the widowhood cocks
get the Blue Mixture. Again as much as the widowhood
cocks can eat and are satisfied.Wal feeds the normal
amount in a small bin in the nest box. After that Wal
will gives small amounts in a bin on the floor, trying
to let the widowhood cocks eat as much as they can and
are completely satisfied. |
| Thursday |
• |
In the morning A handful of "Basic
Mixture" |
| |
• |
In the evening |
| |
|
• |
On Short Distance: the Blue Mixture till
the widowhood cocks are satisfied |
| |
|
• |
On Middle Distance and One-day races:
This is the day the widowhood cocks will be basketing
for the race. About 2 hours before the widowhood cocks
will be basketing they get a small amount of the Blue
Mixture. After that enough of the "Basic Mixture"
and at last but not least some seeds. Wal prefers to
basketing the widowhood cocks with a half to three quarter's
full crop. When the widowhood cocks do not eat enough
this afternoon and will be basketing with an empty-
or almost empty crop, the feeding method during that
week has not been correct. Then widowhood cocks are
already on the top of their condition, which is to be
avoided. The widowhood cocks should be on the top of
their condition on the Saturday when they start the
race. This is why the feeding to an almost filled crop
on the basketing day is very important. |
| Friday |
• |
In the morning
Enough of the "Basic Mixture". This is the
day the widowhood cocks for the Short Distance will
be basketing.These widowhood cocks will only be fed
in the morning. In the afternoon they don't get anything
to eat. The widowhood cocks for the Middle Distance
or One-day races are in the basket. |
|
|
|
