The Poultry Keeper

danro · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: slugs

Hi everyone.

We keep our chooks in a 4m x 10m fenced off area of our garden.
Outside this area I'm (trying) to grow veg but the slugs are currently munching faster than the plants can grow. Evil or Very Mad

My first thought was "Slug pellets!" ... but as a treat we let the chooks out onto the garden once or twice a week to scratch about in the grass and borders.
Will the slug pellets be bad for the hens?
Or should I just let the hens free range more often to get more slugs?

Any ideas\advice greatly received Very Happy

Thanks

Danny

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1220 Location: Midlands

I find my chickens aren't to fussed about slugs, well maybe they'll have the small ones but they never touch the big ones, ducks however will gobble them up. Slug pellets shouldn't be used where your girls can get at them. I don't know if they will kill them but I would advise not to use them where the chickens can get. Have you tried beer traps for the slugs? although I never have, I understand they are very successful, somebody will be along later to tell you more I hope.

Itsybitsy

hollowlegs · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Hampshire

Beer traps work very well as do milk ones! Just bury a yoghurt pot in the vicinity of the vulnerable plants, leaving around half an inch above ground then 3/4 fill it with either liquid. It's amazing how many slugs crawl in overnight & drown. The chooks will love the resulting tasty morsels!!! Very Happy

Woodburner · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject:

Not all slugs are bad, some actually eat the small nasty ones. The little grey ones are the ones that do the most damage. I find the chooks do eat those Smile

nigel · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 6:32 am Post subject:

Ducks eat slugs

[but they also eat vegetable plants and make a real mess in gardens]