slugs!

[Farmer Mike]

I used to have issues when I had my feed on the ground. The chickens made a fine mess of everything. I now hang the feed at their shoulder height and it remains 98% clean. I also think hanging this up reduces the chances of the free-loading chipmunks from an easy meal. I put a metal can on the rope above to prevent the rodents from thinking about climbing down the rope to get at the feed (backpackers trick). I elevated my water on bricks, again to should height, mostly to keep debris out. I still have to clean it out regularly but not quite as often.

As slugs go, my hens love them. They are pretty much doomed if a hen spots them. I smile because it is payback to the slugs for eating my garden.

I haven't tried DE but I would like to add this to my liter and nesting boxes as a preventative measure. Just not sure where to purchase DE.

Overall I have tried beer traps...and they work, but the slugs like good fresh beer. Salt will instantly kill slugs...turns them to mush...but it has to be applied regularly. I tried to put a ring of salt around plants but the slugs found ways in. If chickens are foraging in the garden I would avoid salt...not sure if that is good for them.

Copper would work (electric shock therapy) but it is expensive. Best bet is to find a bird that likes slugs and put them to work. I might release my flock into the garden (under my supervision) to periodically clear out the slugs.

I have tried egg shells around the base of plants to repel slugs (sharp minefield for slugs) but this seemed to have no effect.

We had such a wet year I gave up fighting them.

 

[julsmc]

Quote:
Try putting small sharp gravel on the ground around the dish. Slugs get cut up as they crawl over it. I read it is a solution to keep them away from the base of plants so I think it would work. It would be safe for your chickens. Even the chicken grit would work. Just make sure it is not round, smooth pepples. Hope it works.

 

[VAgal]

We've used a layer of crushed eggshell to help keep them out of the garden. They don't like to crawl over it. I'm sure you have some around and it shouldn't hurt the chickens.

 

[VAgal]

I forgot to mention. The squirrels around here apparently LOVE beery slugs. We never have to empty the beer traps just add more beer and its a squirrel party!

 

[Impress]

So you have drunk squirrels in your yard? Can you get us some video?

I always keep toad houses around, toads eat slugs like crazy. When I move to a new place, I put out my toad houses (Terra cotta pots with a chunk knocked out, places upside down.) and sometimes go toad hunting to relocate some to my yard. Soon you have fat toads and no slugs.

 

[Okie Amazon]

Toads are the most effective and "greenest" slug remedy you can get.

 

[woodmort]

A layer of DE around the edge of the run should hold them a bay. Also there is a product called Slug-Go that is very effective and supposed to be harmless to pets--at least of the mammal variety, I don't know what it would do to birds. I use a lot of it under the plastic in my garden and it works well but it is also away from where the chickens can access it. There are also slug traps, covered traps whereby the slugs can get in but the chickens could not get to them--they are baited with beer as well.

 

[RedDrgn]

Any kind of surface desiccant will work. Boric acid and DE (food grade) are generally chicken friendly though if you choose boric acid I'd put it outside the run fence so the chickens aren't in direct contact. Also, using enough sand around the edges of the area you're trying to protect will drain and dry it very quickly, making it a very miserable place for slugs.

Two of our chickens absolutely LOVE slugs, too (never said they had any taste!), so waiting until night falls to go out and catch a bunch and save them for morning snacks might work if you have birds that are keen on that idea.

 

[kareninthesun]

Quote:
4"!!!! Gross!!!

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Nam Roth, I've used DE for parasite control in horses and poultry. Believe me, it does work and in less than dry conditions.

OP with poultry you should use food grade DE and it can be purchased at your local health food store by the bag. You can by additional slug control products at your garden center.