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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 33935 Location: Hereford
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:10 pm Post subject: |
 
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Chez wrote: |
Nick wrote: |
sean wrote: |
Pay attention to Nick. He's not the one trying to make an addiction to poultry look normal.  |
And I was able to make that decision and post after drinking a pub dry. It's such an easy decision. |
Pshaw  |
Actually, this time not an idle boast. Landlord of 'our' pub retired after 35 years. By three am we'd drunk all the beer, lager, cider and wine in the place. I feel a bit rum. |
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NorthernMonkeyGirl
Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 4354 Location: Peeping over your shoulder
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Nick wrote: |
I feel a bit rum. |
...and coke. And whisky. And that third bottle from the right.
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 34739 Location: yes
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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another vote for tiggy and chums. a pond is far better used as a breeding habitat for amphibians than as a duck amenity or larder as radjel thinks of it. |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14968 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 12:48 am Post subject: |
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Got 'em all. Frogs, toads, songthrushes, I'm even a rehoming centre for the local hedgehog hospital. They aren't making a dent. |
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onemanband
Joined: 26 Dec 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: NCA90
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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I've never been too bothered by the level of slug damage. But this year after a batch of seedlings disappeared on their first night out, I went to war with beer and cider traps. A couple of weeks of beerological warfare reduced the population to acceptable levels and subsequent seedlings all survived. |
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 7774 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 8:51 am Post subject: |
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wellington womble wrote: |
Got 'em all. Frogs, toads, songthrushes, I'm even a rehoming centre for the local hedgehog hospital. They aren't making a dent. |
I never really found when we had ducks that there was a noticeable reduction in slugs. I think you would be better off with Onemanband's beerological warfare. |
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Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35904 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Shan wrote: |
beerological warfare. |
Love this! |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14968 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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It's not really practical over such a larger area, and with such numbers. Also, the chickens get into everything and make a mess of it.
What on earth would I do with a couple of thousands and inebriated slugs?! (We are talking thousands, they litter the ground like a plague) |
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Chez
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 35904 Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Can you sell the eggs, do you think? Coz KCs or Cherry Valleys will lay the most and therefore be the most cost effective, if that was an issue.
I'd probably go for Cayugas though, if you wanted a dual purpose type breed. They are gorgeous.
http://www.waterfowl.org.uk/hvducks.html |
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 33935 Location: Hereford
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Pellets. Must be some chicken friendly ones out there. |
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NorthernMonkeyGirl
Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 4354 Location: Peeping over your shoulder
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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The effective (metaldehyde) pellets are a) toxic if eaten and b) currently appearing in water sources, not good. http://www.getpelletwise.co.uk/
I have never been able to tell if the "wildlife friendly" pellets make a damn difference.
Is anyone selling those predator slugs that only eat other slugs?  |
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Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25697 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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I think the only way to beat slugs organically is to grow susceptible plants in a small area and try to keep that as slug free as possible (sharp sticks work well). I can't see keeping a wide area slug free is that possible as once the numbers reduce natural predators will go elsewhere. Free ranging ducks will just be fox fodder. |
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Ty Gwyn
Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 4146 Location: Lampeter
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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A margin of sand around the growing area works,if it gets wet,sprinkle some lime on it,that curtails their movement. |
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 7774 Location: South Wales
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Chez wrote: |
Can you sell the eggs, do you think? Coz KCs or Cherry Valleys will lay the most and therefore be the most cost effective, if that was an issue.
I'd probably go for Cayugas though, if you wanted a dual purpose type breed. They are gorgeous.
http://www.waterfowl.org.uk/hvducks.html |
I still think getting ducks is a BAD BAD BAD idea but Cayugas are also my favourite. Very comical. |
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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Bird safe slug trap with metaldehyde slug pellets:
1) Take clean, empty 2 liter plastic soda bottle.
2) Cut apart at top of cylinder.
3) Invert top piece (sort of like a funnel) into cylinder and staple together.
4) Toss slug bait into trap and lay it down in shady area popular with slugs.
5) Slugs, attracted by bait, squelch their way inside. Not being terrible bright they cannot find their way back out.
6) When device has served its purpose - wrap in newspaper and dispose of in trash.
7) Make more traps, as needed.
Of course none of us drink soda, let alone 2 liter bottles worth. But we all know poor benighted souls who do, who would no doubt be glad to put their empties to such a useful purpose. |
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