The Fabry Strain
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The pigeon strain of Georges and Victor Fabry of Liege, Belgium, played an important part in the history of European pigeon racing, in fact the Fabrys have been successful wherever the sport has put down its roots.

The creator was Georges Fabry, and Victor was his son. Georges really started in in the sport in 1913 when he
arrived in Liege to start a pharmacy business where he built a loft over his shop.To stock it he decided upon the Hansenne strain, for Alexander Hansenne then was considered by many as the best pigeon man in the world.

This purchase of Hansennes indicated Georges Fabry's astuteness for to start he was determined to
stock the very best. Between the two world wars competing against approximately 4,000 flyers,
the Fabry lofts were champions in 1928 and 1929. From 1930 to the start of the Second World War the Fabrys won many championships and National races including scoring nine times in the Angouleme National taking the gold medal for the highest number of prizes with an entry of 12 pigeons.

Unfortunately the German invasion of Belgium interrupted more success and many of the Fabry family ended up in Germany where some were destroyed. However, Fabry managed to retrieve a number and after the war ended bolstered his remaining stock with Bricoux's followed in about 1950 with a a hen from Vanbruaene
and another from De Scheemaecker. This was not the last occasion to introduce other bloodlines but one of his important acts of management was to purchase his own bloodlines from those where successful at racing Fabry's. This ensured a revitalization and continuing conformity of the phenotype.

There then began a very successful period for the Fabry's including the hatching in 1947 of a blue check hen called 'Heroine' who was to prove a fabulous racer and breeder winning as a yearling 1st National St. Vincent at a distance of 945 kilometres in atrocious conditions. This great hen mothered in due course 'Porthos' the winner of two million Belgian francs within the period of 2 years and who in turn became the grand sire to the Janssen Brothers ' Halve Fabry'. Then there was 'Zotteke' who bred amongst others the famous 'Monty' and 'Aiglon' and the exceptional racer called 'Fangio' who won one million Belgian francs over a period of four years. Oh one could go on and on but the space is limited.

Georges Fabry was a meticulous record keeper and good ventilation was necessary for his lofts. He cleaned out twice per day and yearlings and old birds were raced on widowhood. The young birds were trained up to 250 kilometres and contrary to most widowhood flyers, he did not believe in breeding his widowers before the racing season began because this method helped the cocks maintain their form longer. As a family the Fabry's cross well with the Janssens and the strain have proven to be very successful in the USA.



by: Liam O Comain