Ducks in the Garden?

[Christine Robins]

Here in western Oregon, slugs are THE major garden problem in the cooler months. I've been spending an hour every night hand-picking them.

I'm getting two Ancona drakes, about a yr. old, from my neighbor to help with this.

I plan to use a converted chicken coop for night quarters. Since slugs are out and active at night, should I leave my birds out until after dark? Or let them out before dawn? Should they be supervised when it's dark?

We have a large lot--over an acre of open land. The whole border of the lot is fenced, but the garden itself doesn't have its own fence. It's quite a distance from the coop. How do I encourage them to visit the garden frequently? Or will they just make up their own minds about this?

Should I cover up the lettuce and other greens to prevent them from eating the plants or pooping on them?

Christine

 

[Wifezilla]

Good questions. One of the reasons I want to get ducks is because I have slugs. While the slugs are more visible after dark, I think the ducks know where to find them hiding under the leaves

 

[Imp]

I think we must rise up and be rid of this pernicious predator. Just this morning Holstein the cat showed up with a banana slug at his throat. I don't know how many thousands of layena pellets and kitty kibbles have died in my yard alone to satisfy these horrors. I find them invading the house, and chasing the spiders out. Where's my torch? Where's my pitchfork? Where's the salt shaker? I feel their 100 eyes on me all the time.

I think I need me a duck!

 

[trulyviolet]

i let my ducks work the garden in the fall/winter
and early spring

i stay with them so they are pretty good about not eatting stuff they aren't supposed to

(however there was that unfortunate brussels sprout incident.......it wasn't pretty)

my duck pen, which is now just a day pen due to predation,
is inside my garden
convient to toss the slugs into them
during 'the season'

but right now i let them just work the garden
there really isn't much there but garlic and some cole crops
so they are having a blast every day working it all over

they are finding a LOT of baby slugs

we find them during the day here in pennsylvania, when it's damp

they aren't banana slugs like you all have
but i would imagine that between a salt shaker and a couple ducks
you should have them under control


vi

 

[Faithnthyme]

My Khaki's do a remarkable job finding the slugs during the day. I let them free range in the yard/garden during the daylight hours and then put them in their pen as dusk falls. From about 9:00/10:00 pm till after 8:00 am they are in their night run which is a combination of inside/outside and covered in hardware cloth - too many raccoons, coyotes,foxes and owls around. During the open air growing season I have to fence off some tender young things to keep them out - they love strawberries, baby lettuce, tomatoes, etc

Watch the way the drakes root around with their bills, the slugs don't stand much of a chance. If you leave them out at night, you are at risk for coming out to no ducks. Good luck & enjoy!