Lovemychooks Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Hi, I found loads (well, probably only about 6 !) of slugs in and on my two grubs this morning and slime everywhere. I washed the two grubs but there were still bits of slime. Is there a way to stop the slugs going anywhere near the grubs ?? The slugs are driving me mad !! I know that it has been mentioned somewhere on here, although I can't find it, about chicken friendly slug pellets. Has anyone used these and does anyone know where I can get them from ? Does anyone know of a slugwatch ??!! Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Let the girls out to eat them......Ours go bad for snails and slugs..... Snails make a bit of a crunching sound, stops them eating the plants though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 I do let them out in the hope that they'll eat them but they take one look at them and turn their noses up !!! My other chicken, Chook, would have demolished all of them but she is in the Eglu in the sky unfortunately !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 If you want to leave the Grub out at night, you will have to kill the slugs before they get to it. But I would be wary of using pellets anywhere near the chickens -- and remember that they have extraordinarly long necks as far as forbidden items are concerned. Perhaps "slug pubs" that are put out only at night when the chickens are locked up would be a possibility? An alternative is to ignore the slugs. The chickens will enjoy eating them far more than eating their pellets. The solution I employ is to take the Grub in at night. The chickens don't need food then, so leaving it out is really an invitation to slugs and rats. I used to leave it out, but I got rats (and was horrified to learn that pellets contain the antidote to rat poison). Since bringing the food in every night, it has stayed cleaner, there is no wastage, and no slugs, and no rats. I now find bringing it in much less trouble than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 Thanks Gallina, i'll start doing that. I don't know why I didn't think of that before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Regarding chickens not eating slugs - I found that mine wouldn't until they knew what was inside! Once I'd pre-squashed a couple for them, they realised they were good to eat and now they just tuck in! I know it's a bit Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Regarding chickens not eating slugs - I found that mine wouldn't until they knew what was inside! Once I'd pre-squashed a couple for them, they realised they were good to eat and now they just tuck in! I just can't bring myself to ... or snails, either! my grub often has a slug lurking on it. I don't think my chickens read the job description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Mine only like snails and the weeny baby slugs. The biggies are too chewy! Perhaps we should all do as Lesley does & get the scissors on the job! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 It probably is because they are too big to tuck into so maybe I might try Lesley's little trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Mine prefer the small ones. They find the large ones hard to eat, and only henrietta really likes them. The others don't like getting slime on their beaks and spend ages trying to wipe them on the grass. Funny to watch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Mine do the same! They'll eat the really small ones but don't like the slime off the big ones...it is really funny to watch . i might try squishing them though as i would really like the girls to start ridding my garden of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 we've noticed a lot of slugs lately, mine arent on the grub, but early in the morning when i open the eglu door there are loads in the run! maybe its the wet weather? my girls would never eat slugs either! are slugs just snails without shells? ...ive often wondered?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
