Hiya, guess who threw some lettuce leaves and cabbage plants onto the compost heap, and then forgot to turn it over, and throw the carpet back on?
Result - I now have a compost heap over-run with slugs. (I suppose at least they aren't on my veggie plot though!).
However, should I let them stop on the compost and have a free feast, or should I get rid of them?
I always have slugs..and snails in my compost heap/dalek..there is no way of getting rid of them..really.
They alway find they way in..and actually they are natural part of the composting 'food chain'. I don't find them doind no harm ;)
They process the leaves down into lovely poo, so don't worry!
It's good exercise for the chickens if you give them a slug. It's a case of catch me if you can ;D ;D ;D.
I thought that slugs were some of the workers in the compost heap since they hurry up the process, the problem is when they run out of edibles they invade the veggie plot.
So my original fears, when I saw slugs bigger than I've ever seen them before, wasn't as frightening as I first thought!!!!!
Thanks for the great advice again everyone
Mark
Does this mean if anyone is squeamish about killing slugs, they could put them on the compost heap, or would that be a bad move?
they could put them on the compost heap..they could..but there is difference between 'slug and slug'..some eat only decaying plant matter...and some nice and fresh, green growth..So those found in composts are often the less harmless type..where as if you keep chucking any old slug into bin your just create secure accommodation for the less desireble onces. I would leave those found in open where they are for predators to dispose or get rid of otherwise and leave the ones in composts alone.. ;)
I know the worms in the compost bin are diffenent from the earth worms but did not know the same was true of slugs. Seems to have orange ones in the bin and small grey ones on the plants bu also seems to have some orange ones on the palnts as well. I am finding it difficult to tell the difference.. But it is the huge black ones I hate.
I find difficult telling the difference too..but it was one wild life program where some expert was explaining it..I was sort of 'half listening' so I missed the description bit.. ::)
I suppose I should really look into this and store it into my brain for good.. ::)
Here we go..some slug info.. ;D
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/staffinfo/wocs2.html (http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/staffinfo/wocs2.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtD5dxTcXm4
Having seen leopard slugs mating on a natural history programme I can never kill them! This is not as good quality but it is so beautiful I just chuck any of these on the compost heap.
When snails were not common we viewed them as a novelty, now I am happy to feed them to the chickens but don't do not see many slugs :-\