Hello, sorry if this is in the wrong place – this board is not my natural habitat! Can anyone please help? We have bird feeders hanging on the wall between us and next door. Its a kind of dry-stane-dyke affair. At nights the feeders are teeming with slugs, then slimy in the day. I see slugs on the ground too – our cat is fascinated by them (yuck). I moved the feeders to the trees at the back but the birds ignored them. When I WFH I am at the kitchen table so really enjoy seeing the birds on the feeders. Any ideas how to get rid of the slugs on the feeders? I dont want to put any sort of poison (? Again, this is not my area of expertise) out because of the cat. I remember my dad putting down bowls of beer – or am I dreaming that? Thanks for reading if you did, and apologies if I am in the wrong place.
Beer traps will catch slugs, but I think a mix of water yeast and sugar has the same attractive effect and is cheaper. Or you can go out on a wet evening and catch them. Relocate them or put them in a bucket of water with detergent to kill them. Its an ongoing war of attrition, the slimey bastards will keep breeding. Theyre probably finding harborage in the gaps in the dry stone wall. As the birds dont use the feeders when its dark, you could try taking them down overnight and replacing them in the morning.
I hang my bird feeders on metal brackets or wires. Then slugs cant get to them.
The feeders are actually on metal hook things. The slugs definitely live in the wall, also tiny mice – the cat can spend hours just observing the wall. If we use beer/similar traps do they die? Where would we relocate them to? They make me feel slightly sick, so apologies for sullying this charming board with them.
Yes the slug traps will kill them. If you decide to relocate them, just scout out somewhere nearby, not too close or theyll be back. Some weedy vacant ground, perhaps where dead leaves accumulate and drop them off. You could try putting down cardboard or newspaper underneath the feeders, perhaps leaning against the wall. It doesnt matter if it gets wet. The slugs retreat there and you can collect and dispose of them during the day. I think its something youll have to do regular to keep the numbers down. Itll reduce the problem but may not cure it completely. Ive not used the yeast mixture myself, but I think theres minimum alcohol pricing now so Id try it before spoiling them with the good stuff from the micro brewery. You can buy a nematode worm that gardeners use to keep slugs off plants. I dont know if it would work to depopulate your wall but its something to consider. A bucket and rubber gloves, an enthusiastic and gullible child can also be useful. Last resort – flamethrower!
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In summary, it’s critical to recognize that slugs may be drawn to bird feeders in your yard and to take precautions to keep them away from the food supply. You can watch birds without worrying about them sharing your food with annoying garden intruders if you use these easy tips! Search
Thankfully, there are a few tactics you can employ to keep slugs away from the bird seed. First, make sure your feeder is situated far from places where slugs are known to hide, like next to shrubs and trees or beneath decks. Secondly, create a barrier that slugs cannot cross by using a product like diatomaceous earth around the base of the feeder. Thirdly, you can use environmentally friendly slug traps, like beer traps or copper tape, to keep them away from other wildlife and your garden without causing any harmful chemical pollution. Lastly, consider using natural repellent herbs like oregano or basil in your companion planting to help keep slugs away from your feeders in the first place!
Pests can cause severe damage to your plants and flowers in gardens, which is a common problem. Common garden pests include slugs, snails, aphids, and caterpillars. These creatures can harm your plants in a number of ways, such as by eating leaves or digging tunnels under the ground. Particularly slugs are infamous for their ravenous appetites and, if left unchecked, can swiftly consume entire plants.
Unfortunately, the answer to the question “do slugs also eat bird seed” is “yes.” Bird feeders draw slugs because they provide a convenient food source. They will eat any kind of bird seed, cracked corn, millet, and sunflower seeds. For bird watchers who wish to draw avian companions to their backyard but don’t want to share their food with slugs, this could be a problem.
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Slugs can be caught with beer traps, but I believe a combination of sugar and water yeast will attract slugs just as well and be less expensive. Or you could go out and see them on a rainy evening. To kill them, move them or submerge them in a bucket of water containing detergent. The battle of attrition is still going on, and the slimy bastards will keep reproducing. Most likely, they are hiding in the cracks in the dry stone wall. You might try removing the feeders at night and reinstalling them in the morning because the birds don’t use them during the dark.
The feeders are actually on metal hook things. The wall is undoubtedly home to tiny mice and slugs; the cat can pass hours gazing at the wall. I apologize for spoiling this lovely board with them, but they make me feel a little queasy. If we use beer or similar traps, do they die? Where would we relocate them to?
Yes the slug traps will kill them. If you do decide to move them, simply scout out a new location close bydon’t go too close or they will return. Some overgrown, weedy area, possibly where dead leaves gather and fall One possible solution would be to place cardboard or newspaper underneath the feeders and possibly lean them against the wall. It doesnt matter if it gets wet. There, the slugs hide, and you can gather and get rid of them during the day. It’s something you’ll probably need to do frequently to keep the numbers low. Itll reduce the problem but may not cure it completely. Although I haven’t used the yeast mixture myself, I would try it before spoiling them with the delicious products from the microbrewery because I believe there is currently a minimum alcohol price. Gardeners can purchase nematode worms to deter slugs from eating their plants. Depopulating your wall might not be possible, but it’s something to think about. Rubber gloves, a bucket, and a curious, eager child can all be helpful. Last resort – flamethrower!.
We have bird feeders hanging on the wall between us and next door; I apologize if this is in the wrong place, but this is not my natural habitat on this board. Could someone please assist? Its a kind of dry-stane-dyke affair. The feeders are brimming with slugs at night and slimy during the day. I notice slugs on the ground as well; our cat finds them quite interesting (yuck) The birds disregarded the feeders I moved to the back trees. Seeing the birds on the feeders is something I truly enjoy doing when I WFH at the kitchen table. I don’t want to put any kind of poison (again, this is not my area of expertise) out because of the cat. Does anyone know how to get rid of the slugs on the feeders? Thank you for reading if you did, and I apologize if I am in the wrong place. I seem to remember my dad setting down bowls of beer. Or am I dreaming that?
FAQ
How do I keep slugs out of my bird feeder?
What is eating my birdseed at night?
What food attracts slugs?