been on first slug hunt....

[janeyo]

I have just been on my first slug hunt, with OH holding more torches.
We thought we didn't have very many here.... we are wrong!

It's been so wet today our decking and patio walls were covered in the horrid little things... uurgh.

Funnily enough though none in the veg beds yet.... watch this space.

I have a yog pot full of them as a treat for the chooks in the morning.. and will go out again tomorrow - it's my new obsession!

Even the cat joined in, but wasn't that interesed in them (shame he could earn his keep, he was more interested in the torch!

A few questions, does the beer trap need to be in a deep pot or would a saucer do? Hoe far can they smell the bait or the leaves from?

janeyo

[deezyb]

I have a real problem with slugs also...but not been on first slug hunt yet! I'd be interested also to know how deep the saucer/pot needs to be? I'm trying crushed eggshells this year! if they don't work, then beer it is!!!

[Tracey]

You don't need to spend on beer. Use dried yeast dislolved in tepid water.

[deezyb]

You don't need to spend on beer. Use dried yeast dislolved in tepid water.

Fab Tracy, but what depth of saucer or pot would you use? I read somewhere about putting a jar in a hole in the ground with the rim just above soil level....this about right?

[Paul Wagland]

Or a yoghurt pot would do. The edge should be just higher than ground level, otherwise ground beetles (which eat slugs) can also fall in and drown.

I use supermarket 'value' lager - just a few pence for a big can which lasts for quite a while.

[Two_Sheds]

If you want chicken food, an upturned grapefruit shell is much easier - or anything that the slugs will congregate under during the day. I have a couple of wood offcuts that I leave around the allotment. The slugs sit underneath waiting for me to gather them up ... no hunting with torches (although that is fun on a damp night when you get 100s of the really big ones coming out to play)

[Maf]

I've got beer in inch deep pots in my coldframe.

I get a nightly harvest of about six little grey buggers about 2cm long.

Anyone got any idea what type they are ?

[roitelet]

Try the small 1pt plastic milk bottles. Put them on their side with the opening just level with the soil. Fill with whatever liquid bait you are using just up to the neck. That way the bait is not diluted by the rain and therefore lasts longer.

Don't forget to empty them regularly or the result is positively sick making

[Sue]

I was admiring my violets and primroses and looking closer I saw they were like a bus shelter for slugs, so if you've got these plants - pulmonarias are another one have a look underneath on a regular basis for a quick way of gathering up a good handful of slugs.
Sue

[terrier]

A word of warning! Slugs are a known carrier of lung worm. Make sure you wash you hands well after a slug hunt. Young dogs are quite likely to 'sample' the little blighters to see what they taste like so make sure your dog's worming prog is up to date with a FULL SPECTRUM wormer. Canine Lungworm is not pleasant.