Do I want ducks?

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Do I want ducks?
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Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:10 pm Post subject:

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

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 7:33 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

I feel a bit rum.

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

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46207
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 8:36 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 12:48 am Post subject:
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

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 2:42 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 8:51 am Post subject:

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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 10:58 am Post subject:

Shan wrote:

beerological warfare.

Love this!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 12:33 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:06 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 3:31 pm Post subject:
Pellets. Must be some chicken friendly ones out there.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 4:14 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 6:27 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:05 pm Post subject:
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

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:56 pm Post subject:

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: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 7:58 pm Post subject:

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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