I don't see any problem with keeping the tube horizontal provided you don't stack anything on top of it. The shuttles are so light and the glue so stiff that I can't imagine there being any problems just from gravity. For a single tube, you'd probably use them up before you'd notice any effect. If you're talking about really long-term storage, particularly in a humid environment, maybe that's different.
Hehe...I remember a guy who once stored birds damp for a long period of time at room temperature. When he took them out, they were moldy. Since I live in a dry area, the way I've always done it is to put as many birds as I think I'm going to use the next day into a tube and wrap a damp towel around it with the ends open for overnight. Other times I've done it by keeping sponges or damp rags in the ends of tubes, or, for quick results, steaming them, as you suggested. Basically, the idea is to introduce just enough moisture to keep them from being brittle and thus breaking feathers easily (with higher natural air humidity, this is not as much of a problem). Frankly, though, I don't see people doing that much anymore. They just pull the birds out of the dry tube. I'm sure there is an optimum storage temperature and humidity to keep shuttles in the best condition.
They should be stored in a cool room with constant 55F temperature and 60-70% humidity. The tubes should be angled at 45 degrees with the cork end down. Each tube should be rotated clockwise by 90 degrees every month. Then, before their use, the tubes should be "disgorged" OOps, I think I got confused with Champagne. Sorry.
i store my birdies in the bathroom. ok, at least as much as i can fit into the bathroom. the steam from showers will keep them moist naturally. sometimes i feel that keeping birdie too moist will make them mushy. it is a delicate balance. i have used moldy birdies before (nothing to do with the bathroom, they came from the shop that way!), and it is quite yucky.
Too bad , i dont have a wine cellar, so bathroom is the best place I know Pre-emptive have one maybe he is moving out the bottles now btw, y the shuttle need to store in 45 degrees ? Thanks Ss
Do you have to... Kwun, do you have to keep open one of the caps on the shuttle tubes or keep the tube sealed when storing in the bathroom?
it depends, if the goal is to keep them moist, meaning, they didn't come dry in the first place, the humid surrounding of the bathroom will do the job. if the birdie are dry in the first place, firstly you should change your vendor, then you should still store them in the bathroom and perhaps steam them a day or two before you use them...
I think there is nothing like the firdge when it comes to storing Birds.WHen i buy a box i usually dip them in water(Dip not soak) and then after they dry a bit they get into the fridge. This way the bird plays the way it should and last longer as well. The bathroom thing is a fine line.U let steam cook them more then... and when i was in India if u have bath in Hot water u will be Burnt by the time u are out. for colder countries i think u shoudl be careful when u steam them... But the safest Bid is a Fridge.
Yogi: if one stores the birds in the fridge, would't they dry out since the fridge tends to take the humidity out? Do you store them in the "vegetable compartments" so they stay fresh? I think for people who live in warm humid places they probably don't have to treat the birds like us, who live in cold dry places. The reason we have to steam/rehydrate the birds is because they are dried up and become "crispy". Then they do not last as long.
If you are rich or got the money You can always purchase a shuttle storage machine. These machines maintain the environment at precisely y temperate and z humidity.
i wonder if we can use one of those electronic wine celler machine. it is the size of a fridge, and should be enough to hold 50 or so tubes.