Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: BOM on November 16, 2009, 14:10

Title: Slugs
Post by: BOM on November 16, 2009, 14:10
Hello All,

Is it ok to feed slugs I find in the garden to my chickens (When I get them, no I am not currently hoarding slugs :lol: ).

We keep ferrets and have to ensure that they dont eat slugs as they can contain heart worms, I'm just curious as to whether chickens are susceptible or if it can affect the eggs.

Thats two post from me and both fairly heavy..... yes I do tend to be a bit of a worrier at times :D

Cheers,
Bom
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: grumpydad on November 16, 2009, 14:22
just watch 2 chucks fight over slug entrails, a lovely sight...lol

mine love slugs and snails, and any other creepy crawlies they find. they tend to know what to eat, and as long as they are natural they seem to eat most things without too many problems, just make sure you worm them on a regular basis
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: joyfull on November 16, 2009, 14:26
mine won't touch them.
I do know that hedghogs get lung worms from them and so can dogs etc but not too sure about chickens. However worming with a good wormer ie verm-x should sort them out.
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: viettaclark on November 16, 2009, 20:03
Mine love the smaller slugs....give them a huge brute and they ignore it....tooo tough and slimy! They also eat whole small snails...natural source of calcium to make egg shells!
Really funny how they wipe their beaks on the grass to get rid of the slime!! :D
I'm pretty impressed with their ability to keep down the pests....first year my greens haven't been decimated .... :lol:
I haven't had any worm probs but I worm twice a year in case.
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: Alby on November 17, 2009, 09:05
My girls seem to eat anything  :nowink: and slugs are part of the diet  :D
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: alisonwo on November 17, 2009, 09:55
Mine go nuts for slugs, but won't touch snails, and just trample on caterpillars, must be the hairs ::)
Title: Re: Slugs
Post by: chooksbury on November 17, 2009, 10:59
Ours will peck at a worm but ignore slugs and snails .. but I think they're just fussy eaters anyway  ;)