A top Flemish pigeon fetched €400,000 at an online auction last weekend. The hen, New Kim 3, is related to New Kim, world's the most expensive pigeon. Thanks to the generous bid, it is now the third most expensive hen ever. The buyer hails from China, where there has been considerable interest in top Belgian pigeons for several years now.
In 2020, New Kim, the most expensive pigeon ever, was auctioned for 1.6 million euros. It was bred by a breeder from Berlaar (Antwerp Province). New Kim 3 is owned by a Flemish family. They had an exceptional pigeon season, with four top rankings for New Kim 3 in just 42 days.
This put them at the top of the Belgian ranking in the Belgian pigeon racing category for birds taking part in medium-distance races, usually between 450 and 600 kilometres. The family has just auctioned 18 racing hens at the PIPA auction house in Ghent, raising a total of 523,525 euros. New Kim 3 was by far the most expensive.
No more races for prize pigeon
The buyer hopes to breed three strong offspring from New Kim3. ‘A hen can produce up to 16 young per year,’ says the auctioneer’s Nicolaas Gyselbrecht. ‘They can then be used to participate in competitions or be sold again for breeding.’
It is not yet clear whether the pigeon is heading for China. 'Some buyers let their pigeons breed with a partner in Europe. Others take the risk of transportation. But this hen will no longer be used in competitions. A pigeon instinctively returns to its original loft. If you move it, it will keep trying to fly back, in this case back to Diest in Flemish Brabant. That is why the hen will now only be used for breeding, in a spacious loft with suitable partners. A move means the end of its flying career."