Slugs and egg shells (From Smallholder)

Slugs and egg shells

12:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in News

 Having watched my pak choi being devastated by slugs I had to take some action. I really don’t like using slug pellets so picking them off and taking them to a place where the birds can eat them is my preferred method. Then I remembered the egg shell method.

This involves saving egg shells, drying them and then crushing them. Spread these around the plant and apparently the slug does not like crossing them. So far this does appear to working. There are obviously some very brave slugs who do make the trip but it does seem to have discouraged others. My koli rabi are definitely still standing and looking less lacey. Does anyone else use this?

I also have a pair of quail hatched from a dozen eggs. Not the best hatch I’ve ever had in my life. They are male and female and they seem to be the most greedy birds I have ever kept. They are in a large cage with dust bath and grass. Having not kept these before I was hoping to hear from anyone who has kept them for some years and has some advice. I am amazed that they were hatched in June and the female is already producing an egg a day. I am feeding poultry laying pellets, chick crumbs, wild bird food and meal worms. They don’t seem to like wheat very much.