Slugs eating strawberries

[mattemma04]

We planted strawberries last year,and are getting our first crop now.I noticed some half eaten and thought varmits.Put up fencing and netting.Found out last night while picking that it was slugs.I got a lot.Will be doing some more cleaning up.

I put some straw down before but not a lot.If I put a THICK layer will that be more effective? I am getting a new bale today. I hope chickens can eat slugs.

[SpuglyRoo]

I just read that burying a jar of beer to the rim in your garden would trap slugs. Apparently they climb in to drink the beer and can't get out again (I guess all slugs are inebriates ). I have no idea how well this works, because like I said I just read it and don't have any slugs to try it on, but it might help.

[Simonsez2u]

She's right a little beer in the lid of a jar works well. I would just take the lid off an old mayo jar or something similar and fill it with beer and nestle it into your mulch or dirt.

[kdaisy]

I had a similar thread last year. I never had any luck with the beer, my slugs must be teetotalers. But someone told me to crush eggshells around the perimeter.

I am trying that this year, but have only had two ripe berries so far...and something got to them anyway.

I know diatomaceous earth worked for me in the past. But I now have a son who likes to pick them and eat them from the plant.

[verde]

Chickens LOVE slugs!

I'd try the thick layer of straw. It worked for me and the strawbs like it better as well. Strawbs really don't like to touch the ground -- they do much better resting on the straw.

Let us know if it helps.