Note: This item was written before I moved to Southern California

What is it with new flyers? Twice in the past week, I have come across new flyers that are demonstrating all the right desire but the wrong (in my opinion) process to get there.

A new member in our club, who has been reading the Digest for months now, just couldn't wait and ordered a pair of grizzles. Only problem is they are late - late hatches and won't be able to breed until probably May, and we start flying YB's in Mid July. So, how are these birds going to help him in 2004. Maybe later they will help, but the first year of flying is the most important in building a good experience for these new flyers.

Another new flyer called me after viewing my website and asked about purchasing birds. He said that he had visited my site and saw that I had birds from strains he had heard were winning. Instead of selling him some of my birds I recommended he purchase from another flyer who I knew had birds that would fly in his climate and race course. This new flyer wasn't interested in these birds as they were not the "strains" being advertised.

Don't get me wrong, I do sell to new flyers but I am more interested in making sure they get the proper start in the sport. And, in my opinion, the best staring point is to begin with birds that will fly successfully for you immediately!

To read the complete article go to:
http://www.racingpigeonmall.com/loft/articles/what-is-it.html

Health Tips from readers:

John, I thought I'd give you some info on what I have been doing when respiratory problems arise. You may already know this stuff, so if you do, just round file it. The very best flock treatment I have found for rattles, one eyed colds etc. is one tsp. Aureomycin concentrate and one tsp. White Tylan in a gallon of water for a week. I have also had very good luck treating an individual bird with eye cold or rattles by giving them a capsule that I make up myself. I get some of those 250 mg gel caps ( the kind that are in two pieces) and fill them with half Aureomycin concentrate and half White Tylan. I give the infected bird one of these capsules down it's throat, one per day until the symptoms are gone (which is usually only two or three days!) Hope this helps, it has really worked for me.

I have worked out an arrangement with a friend in Europe, to acquire top record birds from "total sale" dispersals where the European flyer in leaving the sport or has passed on. Usually, it is only at these total sales that the good birds can be purchased for less than an "arm and a leg". Currently, I have 6 of these import record birds in transit and they will be available for breeding in the USA by mid-January. If you are tired of paying $300 - $500 for children of top record birds, here is your opportunity to pick up one or more from this group. These will be the only imported record birds I will have until March so take a close look at them and contact me if you are interested.

These birds include: 1st ~ 8,008 birds, 1st ~ 4,437 birds, 1st ~ 3,967 birds, Federation Champion Bird, and other "top" race winners.

The link to the list of these record imports can be found on the RacingPigeonMall Home page. Payment arrangements available (requires non-refundable deposit).

The auction link is also accessible from the home page. One of the birds currently listed is a grandson of "Super 73".

Got something to say? Here is the place to sound off.

Every issue, we will reserve this space for our members to raise topics for discussion.

e-mail your feedback to: loftmaster@racingpigeonmall.com

I received the following message from Tenyou Soon Fah after our fourth newsletter went out. Here, Tenyou is responding to Matt Hans article on supplemental L-Carnitine and Creatine in his youngbirds' diet. I have included that part of his message which I believe summarizes his position best.

"We should not lose sight of the fact that without these two [L-Carnitine and Creatine], the body loses the power to sustain optimum power and the ability to transport the necessary energy needed during challenges on the body for either short or long duration. Not to mention the quick recovery benefits after the races!. This is particularly important for the building up of our little athletes for the next race. Lactic acid build up needs to be eliminated quickly else the birds is in much pain. We need to look, not only at the race sheet, but also give our little athletes the best chance to perform at their optimum. If we are winning with different birds and at the different stations, and there are no repeaters, lots of losses or the previous race winner just plugging home, then we need to look at the recovery of the birds following the flights. It doesn't do any harm (I don't believe) to incorporate giving the birds these supplements during the build up phase for performance and after the race. Anything to help our flying athlete."