Too many slugs?

[loofa]

We are having a very wet summer in Oregon and have SO. MANY. SLUGS. My ducklings have just started having foraging time in our yard and it's like an all you can eat buffet. Can they eat too many slugs? they are almost 5 weeks old. My husband is super happy because he is the gardener in the family and the slugs have been making it really rough to grow anything, but I have been leading them away from slug buffet after a bit because I worry that they are eating too many. Is that a thing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.tillysnest.com/2011/12/slugs-html/

 

[EverythingDucks]

I'm in Florida and we often get evening showers. I've never seen so many slugs. I hope my wild Mallards will eat them all. The slugs get into our strawberries and garden

 

[Ratchnick]

https://www.permaculturenews.org/20...slugs-as-a-resource-with-indian-runner-ducks/

 

[cheezenkwackers]

https://www.tillysnest.com/2011/12/slugs-html/

I did deworm mine for possible Gape worms but I couldn't begin to stop them from eating worms, slugs, and snails.

 

[loofa]

Okay, so I read the delightful article linked about Indian Runner ducks eating slugs, and the alarming article about the chicken choking on a slug. I'm thinking that ducks don't choke on slugs right? Back to the original question; can my young ducks eat too many slugs? Perhaps I should expand on it - can eating lots of slugs cause them to miss out on some nutrients because it might cause them to eat less of their duckling feed? And well, they have tried to eat some really big ones - could they choke like the chicken? I'm thinking probably not, but there have been moments when I said "that one is TOO big for you!" with alarm.

 

[Ratchnick]

Choking is not impossible i would think. Never good to eat to much of one thing.

 

[416bigbore]

Choking is not impossible i would think. Never good to eat to much of one thing.

I agree with Ratchnick on this. I would think an adult duck would be fine, but the baby ducklings need other nutrition while growing.

 

[DucksOhio]

I did deworm mine for possible Gape worms but I couldn't begin to stop them from eating worms, slugs, and snails.

Interesting, what medicine did you use, and did you do this to all your ducks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If I toss a slug to my poultry they won’t eat it. Not saying they haven’t but I’ve never seen them Eat one. I do know I’ve read the sliminess can cause distress we’ve had members post about it. We use to be overrun with slugs grass hoppers crickets now I rarely see any. We use to have frogs too