Slugs and snails. - Page 3

Tracydr · May 22, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilex

They probably will, but if there are plenty bugs, probably not much.

They don't eat lettuce when on patrol for example. I wouldn't let a chicken loose among lettuce or cabbage

They are also very easy to herd and a very low fence will keep them out.

It's amazing how many snails they can eat. Over 1lb per bird per day.

You can let ducks right in the garden and they don't scratch or damage the garden like chickens do. They a
So seem a little smarter,actually pretty easy to train,come when called and will follow you around to move them from place to place. They seem to actually prefer eating slugs,snails and bugs,whereas the chickens will go after the tomatoes and other produce.
I have chickens,peacocks and gunieas but they aren't let into the garden. The peacocks amd guineas fly over the fence but they aren't nearly as destructive as chickens to the garden but still not as easy on the garden as ducks. They are more carnivorous than chickens though,so prefer bugs to produce.
I'm planning to get a new duck flock this summer. I lost my first flock to a fox or coon but now I have a barn and fencing so they should be a little safer.

MuddyBuckets · May 23, 2016

So, what are the preferred methods of getting rid of slugs and snails? Can you sprinkle the ironite in the garden rather than disolve it and spray on the plants? Any help is appreciated, with all our rain this season the slugs are in control!

oakley · May 23, 2016

Beer traps, cooper, DE, ...

A few posts down is another slug discussion. 'slugs on my beans'

"Copper works. Tape, mesh, sheets cut with tin snips to make a ring. Not tried just a wire ring....should work. I use everything. A bit of DE around the hostas. And beer baits...DIY buried tin cans with the ole fashion can opener. 4 triangle openings pointing out like an awning and buried to that point and covered with a rock. A can with a lid would work but mine are just small bean cans. Water bottles would work the same way with cut 'awnings'. My pups would probably grab those, run, and shake the beer out.
They don't seem to bother the rocks. I was using tuna cans but bean cans hold more.

I have sluggo also. Use that around the beans and salad beds that have copper tape on the top edges of the beds. Tape does not hold that well so a few nails fix that.

I don't have near the army i had a few years ago. I just need to check and toss the beer traps once a week now and the 'awning' method keeps water out.

I get a few tiny ones when i rinse salad....thy float to the top of the water rinse. (yuck)"

Depends on what they are affecting. If everywhere you need to use a few methods.

Yet another method i've posted if you have an army is to wet a big thick section of newspaper or a carpet scrap, or a few of those all around your plants and in the walking paths...Lift it up in the morning and you should catch a good amount. Drop them in salty water.

Hundreds of articles on the net.

oakley · May 23, 2016

If you have them this year, you will have them nest year. Best to just start the slug-b-gone process right away in the spring. I put out traps last night and i have only a tiny nibble so far...i know they are there just not as many. A bit of DE tonight after the rain stops. Don't need much. Just a bit around the stem.

May 23, 2016	#32
MuddyBuckets Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Eastern/Coastal NC 8b Posts: 192	So, what are the preferred methods of getting rid of slugs and snails? Can you sprinkle the ironite in the garden rather than disolve it and spray on the plants? Any help is appreciated, with all our rain this season the slugs are in control!

May 23, 2016	#33
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Beer traps, cooper, DE, ... A few posts down is another slug discussion. 'slugs on my beans' "Copper works. Tape, mesh, sheets cut with tin snips to make a ring. Not tried just a wire ring....should work. I use everything. A bit of DE around the hostas. And beer baits...DIY buried tin cans with the ole fashion can opener. 4 triangle openings pointing out like an awning and buried to that point and covered with a rock. A can with a lid would work but mine are just small bean cans. Water bottles would work the same way with cut 'awnings'. My pups would probably grab those, run, and shake the beer out. They don't seem to bother the rocks. I was using tuna cans but bean cans hold more. I have sluggo also. Use that around the beans and salad beds that have copper tape on the top edges of the beds. Tape does not hold that well so a few nails fix that. I don't have near the army i had a few years ago. I just need to check and toss the beer traps once a week now and the 'awning' method keeps water out. I get a few tiny ones when i rinse salad....thy float to the top of the water rinse. (yuck)" Depends on what they are affecting. If everywhere you need to use a few methods. Yet another method i've posted if you have an army is to wet a big thick section of newspaper or a carpet scrap, or a few of those all around your plants and in the walking paths...Lift it up in the morning and you should catch a good amount. Drop them in salty water. Hundreds of articles on the net.