Evert has disposal over three sections for his old birds and normally he races 40 widowers.

In short distance racing he enters partly on widowhood system and partly on the nest. Two sections can house a maximum of twenty pairs and one section can house twelve hens on widowhood system. Evert: "The coming season I will race hens for the first time in my career. I might be almost retired, but that does not mean I avoid new challenges!

On the late tour I enter nestbirds and the nesthens are trained than once or twice a week at a distance of approx. 35 km.

Because not all pigeons are housed in the same loft, he can rotate with medicines or additional products. Like when they arrive home two sections get glucose and one section gets electrolytes. Normally every week one of the three sections get a canker cure, and so all pigeons are cured once every three weeks. When Evert thinks it is necessary, he cures against ornithosis.

When something is wrong with the pigeons, they go to the vet Nanne Wolff from Hattemerbroek. And to prevent paratyphoid he follows no particular schedule. “Sometimes I cure and inject in winter, sometimes I only cure and sometimes I do nothing. I think it is important to NOT use a certain schedule for it. The birds must not get used to it, maybe than the medicine does not work!”. Three bags of traditional racing mixture of three different firms are mixed. Evert feeds by the feel, but he follows the principle of the first days a bit less and the last days a bit more. On Fridaymorning the birds get the chance to eat all they want, but they do not eat much than anymore. Friday midday they get some candy seeds, so they drink a bit more.

Always in the top

When Evert still worked, he had not much time in pigeon racing. After a few years being retired, he build a huge extra loft. Many other fanciers said: “This is the end of good results.” Maybe sometimes housing more pigeons is combined with worse results, but for Evert this was not the case! He could now compete on all races and it bared him fruits in several (National) competitions. "With a small loft you are much more vulnerable,” says Evert. "When you own more pigeons, you can basket more easy after a bad race. With ten widowers that is a problem more often."

In the meanwhile his name is a steady factor in the top of Dutch pigeon racing. They therefore call him ‘The giant of East Holland’. Evert enjoys it and is very proud of all attention. It also motivates him extra to once again be the best this year!