Vegetables Gardening - Growing Organic Vegetables

Hi Jim,

Two days back I noticed dozens of slugs in my garden. (We've had almost 40% excess rainfall over long term average during this years rainy season from June-September in Hyderabad, South India)

So I spent 5-6 hours researching how to fix the slug issue over here in the Mittleider group as well as on Google.

As far as I can tell there is nothing that really works against slugs.

In the meantime they are eating up my spinach... and making holes in my eggplant leaves. At first I wasn't worried but after scanning Google I'm worried as they have the potential to rip apart my whole garden.

So, I personally caught about 30 or so (after dark) and disposed them off... but there seem to be tons more and it's an unpleasant task. :-(

So looking for help here...

The best idea I have at the moment (from all this research) is to use natural predators. (Basically ducks, chicken, snakes, frogs, birds or a combination) Problem is how to use them without further damaging my garden.

So at the moment... I am thinking of putting two grown chicken/hens in a chicken tractor (essentially a cage so they can't get out).

This cage will be wide enough to fit the aisles (maybe 2.5 feet by 5 feet) and I'll move it around every day so they can take care of the weeds as well as the slugs and other insects in the aisles.

Is this feasible? Or will chicken (even in the aisles) cause other problems to my growing vegetables.

In your experience what's been the best plan of action to counter slugs?

Thanks bunch Jim,

Bhavani Prasad

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