Slugs in compost bin

[Tigs33]

hmmm not too sure about using scissors on them lol I think I will just bag them up and pop them in the bin.

I do use slug pellets in my coldframe though after they decided to munch on a few cucumbers I had growing. Seems to have worked and I can just put the pellets on the gravel and not my plants

[eskymo]

It's good for the soul and keeps you sane!

[Lesley Jay]

It's war out there! They are NOT eating my vegetables that I have taken months to grow.

[SueA]

I collect them in a plastic bag & put them in the dustbin so that I can say I've not killed them it's the dustmen! Besides some might survive the crusher & live to eat there way through heaps of landfill! Be careful not to use a bag with lots of airholes in it though or they will wriggle out & you get a nasty shock when you open the bin.

[TPeers]

If you are happy with letting your hens out they are supposed to love a nice slug salad! I don't know if you could train them like retrievers? Just a thought....

[Squirrel]

I sometimes find snails on the side of pots and knock them off with a stick into the hen run - it's like world war III in there as the hens go for them in a big way!

[Tigs33]

OMG!!! just had a look in the compost bin, armed with my secateurs!!! managed to find 5 and disposed of them, squashing one with my welly boot wasn't very sucessful as it just got squished in my tread!!! lol

[Alice]

Since I don't keep hens I'm lucky to have a fox prowling the place. He spends the night feasting on slugs and snails and does no damage that I can see.

[Strepsy]

I thought they were fine in compost bins. This is info I got with my bin.

Your compost bin is a great feeding ground for slugs and snails as they help to break down your compost. Many people take advantage of this by putting them in the compost bin. This way you know exactly where they are and because you are regularly feeding them, they have no reason to leave your bin and munch your lettuces. They will keep moving up the bin to get to the fresh material, eventually dying of old age in your heap, fat and happy! It is unlikely that any slug eggs laid will survive whilst in the bin as they will either be predated on or decompose as they become compressed within the heap. Ensure that all of your compost is fully decomposed before using it on your garden.

[eskymo]

well I can speak from experience as I put slugs in my bin and my comspost was infested with slug eggs. I thought the high temperature would kill them.

[blackkitty]

I'm squeamish about tramping on big snails so I drop neice heavy pots on them, that works well. I had a row of coriander plants decimated by slugs last night, I must have got eggs in that patch last year and the rain brought them out. I think I cut fifity tiny ones in half:

[Bugeyes]

Tigs there are certain types of slug that actually assist in breaking down compost in your bin - I can't remember their name but basically don't worry about the ones that have made their way in there by themselves, they are there for a reason but don't add slugs from elsewhere

[Tigs33]

Thanks BE, I will leave them alone now

[hils]

I could not agree more!!! Death to slugs and snails. I take great delight 'salting' the ones I find on the path.

[hils]

Peter, thanks for the info on the ab fab slug site. It still does not make them any more welcome in the garden though!