Is it bran?

[Curlykale]

I ordered a big bag of bran from a local supplier so I could try it as a slug deterrant on my raised beds.

The label says "wheatmeal feed". Is it bran or have they given me the wrong stuff?

[WrexTheDragon]

Yes it's the same product, but I think it would attract slugs and not deter them.

Bran is good food for the birds that my eat the slugs.

[zazen999]

It does stop the slugs.



However, the birds love it so they end up divebombing the area that you have lovingly protected and end up mashing up the plants worse than the slugs would have done.

[Curlykale]

Oh heck - anyone want an 18kg bag of bran?

[zazen999]

18kg

I use sawdust to mulch my seedlings.....it's free from my lottie neighbour [well, I give him seeds and seed potatoes and stuff, he gives me sawdust]....and I get lovely slug free seedlings.

You could always use it in the greenhouse to put over the top of sown seed [creates a nice finish and the slugs won't walk over it]. In time - you'll get it used up.

But I saw the birds divebombing my seedlings when I used it and thought - 'excellent, they are going for the slugs that can't walk over it'....but alas - they just wanted the bran. My several containers of seedlings were shredded. Back to the drawing board.

[WrexTheDragon]

Since I started to use crushed egg shells, I have not had a problem with them.

No shortage of them and they are free.

[oldie]

I've been using bran for two years and have not had any problems with birds and a definite improvement from slug damage. The GYO magazine did a test a few years ago and bran came out very well. It can tend to compact round plant stems when it gets wet and needs to be topped up after rain. A lot cheaper than nematodes every six weeks.

[zazen999]

Perhaps it's just the Nottingham birds then! Worth a try if others haven't had the same problem.

Perhaps on an empty pot first though, just in case.

[Curlykale]

18kg
You could always use it in the greenhouse to put over the top of sown seed [creates a nice finish and the slugs won't walk over it]. In time - you'll get it used up.

That's a good idea, Zazen - I'll use some of it for that.

As Oldie hasn't had any problems I'll try some as an experiment. I have some pathetic little seedlings which I was going to put on the compost heap - I'll put them in an empty bed and surround them with bran, take cover and see what happens!

WrextheDragon, I've managed to save enough shells to put around some of my lettuce seedlings but would be seriously ill if I tried to produce enough shells for the other 17 1/2 beds!

Thanks for your replies everyone

[Snadger]

As a kid, I remember being sent to the co-op for a bag of bran and a bag of crushed oats for my Mams bunnies! (so you may attract bunnies as well as birds)

Are bran flakes not made from it............if so, add milk and have it for brekkie!

[COMPOST CORNER]

Maybe the birds are eating the bloated slugs? Just chuck the offending beasties away from precious plants each morning if the birds cause a problem. I have used bran and never noticed a bird problwm. Bran does work.

[oliveoyl]

I've been using bran for the past few weeks, and have to say that, so far, the results have been fantastic... I haven't noticed any slug damage at all on lettuce, brassicas etc. No bird interest in the bran either.

And another bonus is that it's cheap as chips.

[zazen999]

Maybe the birds are eating the bloated slugs? Just chuck the offending beasties away from precious plants each morning if the birds cause a problem. I have used bran and never noticed a bird problwm. Bran does work.

That's what I originally thought....but alas no.

[womble]

Bran attracts rats and mice, I have used it against slugs and it's very effective, but because of the rat problems I have on and off, I don't use it any more. They don't need any more encouraging thankyou

Maybe in a pot, in the sealed greenhouse I would use it.