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Do I want ducks?
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Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

 
NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
I feel a bit rum.


...and coke. And whisky. And that third bottle from the right.


 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 16 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

 
wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 16 12:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Got 'em all. Frogs, toads, songthrushes, I'm even a rehoming centre for the local hedgehog hospital. They aren't making a dent.

 
onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 16 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

 
Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 8:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

 
chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Shan wrote:
beerological warfare.


Love this!

 
wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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)

 
chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/hvducks.html

 
Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Pellets. Must be some chicken friendly ones out there.

 
NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The effective (metaldehyde) pellets are a) toxic if eaten and b) currently appearing in water sources, not good. https://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?

 
Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

 
Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A margin of sand around the growing area works,if it gets wet,sprinkle some lime on it,that curtails their movement.

 
Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

https://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.

 
Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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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