compost bin and slugs!!

[MIDDLE AGED BEGINNER]

evening folks-
as very much a beginner i am having more disasters than triumphs in the garden but very much enjoying the learning curve. one thing i have been really pleased with is my compost bin- i could almost sit in it myself the stuff looks that rich. now the stupid question-- i have noticed a number of slugs in my compost and we all know what a total pest they are in general so are they a problem in compost?? i have never noticed them in there before and think they probably sneaked in with recent grass clippings as the grass was really long when i cut it after all the wet weather. any input much welcome- i do not want to lose my nice, juicy compost.

[NSB]

I dont know if they have an effect but I put all mine in the compost bin, I thought it may do the same thing as a wormery, but as I'm learning as I go along I'll keep you posted.

[rustylady]

Slugs eat green plants, and as such they are part of the recycling scheme. They are a bl***y nuisance when they eat your growing crops, but in a compost heap they should help with breaking stuff down. Just beware, they may be using your heap as a cheap B & B and sneaking out during the night to eat whatever's growing on your plot.

[MIDDLE AGED BEGINNER]

never thought of the little bleeders popping out from the bin for a bit of a feed- i think i may try a trench full of salt around the bin to try and keep them doing only useful work.

[bubblewrap]

never thought of the little bleeders popping out from the bin for a bit of a feed- i think i may try a trench full of salt around the bin to try and keep them doing only useful work.

Try broken up egg shells!

[Madasafish]

My compost bins are full of slugs. It's a waste of time trying to get rid of them... they break down a lot of plant matter.
Just be thankful they are there and not eating other (live) plants ... is my view...

[kate&rob]

apparently there are good and bad slugs. As far as i am aware the ones in your bin should be ok, while in there they aren't doing any damage elsewhere.

[thecornflake]

After reading this I checked my new compost bin which we've only been using for a few days and there were lots of really fat slugs in it. I figure the same thing - if they're in there then they're not on my plants and they probably help with the composting process.

[Madasafish]

If you actually look at the slugs closely, many of them in a compost heap are greyer and lighter in colour than the usual black/black&red variety. (at least mine are). Suggests they live there most of the time...