Testing ‘safe’ slug pellets....

[gwynleg]

So my starting pots of dahlias were getting massacred by slugs/snails so I have been using organic approved slug pellets every day. Each day the pellets have all disappeared and I thought that I had a huge slug problem. Until today when I saw a pigeon hoovering them all up!

So as long as the pigeon keeps returning, I'd say they are safe for other creatures....!

[gwynleg]

[ancellsfarmer]

Which  Brand/compound are you using? Do they kill molluscs?, or does the sight of a large grey bird make them run for cover!!

[ACE]

A cheap jar of instant coffee will be safe, the only trouble is it that it keeps the birds awake and singing all night.

[ancellsfarmer]

In your dreams!!

[lezelle]

Hi, I wonder about the safety if the birds are eating them. I to, like Ancells, wonder what they are and what the label says. Hope you have more pigeons than slugs now. Perhaps the slugs have left as the pigeon's have eaten all the food. Are they blue pellets? Blue is supposed to put all other creatures off them. Interesting. Would like to know more. Cheers

[Metanurb]

A cheap jar of instant coffee will be safe, the only trouble is it that it keeps the birds awake and singing all night.

Maybe you're using the wrong coffee, "Mellow Birds" was quite popular in the 70s. 

[gwynleg]

Hi, they are the ferric phosphate ones that are sold as suitable for organic gardening, and as not harmful to other creatures. They are blue but that didn't seem to deter the pigeons!

I have put the pots under mesh now as they were also nibbling the dahlia leaves, so the experiment has stopped. Pigeons still very much around today

[ancellsfarmer]

7 days on- how are the slugs?

[gwynleg]

Well my dahlias are finally growing so think the slugs are under control. Must remember to put more pellets though as we've had some rain....Pigeons certainly seem alive and active still!

[johhnyco15]

i sowed some dahlias this year as it was an awful winter to fill in gaps as i leave them in however i only lost 2 so i planted them around my greenhouse  they are just starting to bloom and so are my zinnias

[Vinlander]

Hi, they are the ferric phosphate ones that are sold as suitable for organic gardening, and as not harmful to other creatures. They are blue but that didn't seem to deter the pigeons!

I have put the pots under mesh now as they were also nibbling the dahlia leaves, so the experiment has stopped. Pigeons still very much around today

So they are an iron tonic for all our pests except slugs - talk about unintended consequences...

I have seen metaldehyde pellets disappear even in dry weather - I reckon the mice and pigeons use them to get off their faces! At least they might be less efficient thieves while hung-over.

I never put  metaldehyde on the ground in my garden (where I have friends - hedgehogs etc.) - I follow advice on this forum and put them in 500ml bottles - slugs seek them out but I'm not sure they would be as motivated by ferric.

Cheers.