You buy a pigeon for years, not for one season. That is why we are open about how our pigeons are kept, which documents come with them and what you can expect from us.
Our pigeons live in their own loft with an indoor section and an aviary, naturally ventilated. They get fresh water every day and a fixed feeding schedule with a grain mixture, grit and minerals, adjusted to the season: breeding, racing and moulting. The loft is cleaned weekly and disinfected regularly. A pigeon that is not fit goes to a separate section and is cared for before it is ever offered for sale.
Every pigeon is sold in good health and must be fit enough to travel.
All pigeons are vaccinated annually against paramyxovirus (PMV, also known as Newcastle disease). That vaccination is compulsory for pigeons that take part in races or shows. Young pigeons are also vaccinated against pigeon pox.
We deworm our pigeons two to four times a year, certainly after the moult. During the racing season we check for trichomonosis (“the yellow”) and treat where needed. Coccidiosis and other conditions are treated as the veterinarian prescribes.
What you receive depends on where the pigeon is going. Within Belgium you get the pigeon movement document, with the owner, the ring number and the date of the last vaccination. For deliveries outside Belgium we look at the certificates the country of destination requires together with you and your veterinarian: a veterinary certificate, sometimes an import permit or quarantine. What a country requires is set out in that application, so we like to plan it with you early.
Before transport we look at the pigeon once more: eyes, nose and throat, its weight and its droppings. If we have any doubt, the pigeon does not travel and we look for a new date or another solution with you. A pigeon that has just been treated or vaccinated gets a few days of rest before it travels.
You find those documents on the product page and, after your purchase, in your account.
Check the pigeon on arrival: the ring number, its general condition and the state of the transport crate. Keep a new pigeon apart from your own loft for a few days so you can observe it calmly. That protects your own colony and shows you immediately if something is wrong.
Does something go wrong anyway? Report it to us in writing — within 24 hours if the pigeon arrives ill or dead, and within two months for anything else — under our DOA and guarantee policy.
Would you like to know more about the health of a pigeon you have your eye on? E-mail us at johan@debelserracingpigeons.be. We will tell you what we know and what we can provide.
See also the FAQ, the transport page and our Terms and Conditions.