personally I try to avoid using them as they can cause problems for other animals that eat them or the dead slugs/snails. there is one that stops slugs etc feeding and they then burrow into the soil to die. these are meant to be less of a problem.

I have had a lot of success with beer traps and half skins of oranges.grapefruits. but you have to empty them out every day to keep on top of the problem.

I'm afraid I still use them but with a guilty conscience. We have so many slugs and snails. OH collected about a quarter of a bucketful off the lawn not long ago.

I have a friend who says the slugs and snails go around the pellets, and that a coarse ground product works better.

If you do use make sure that other creatures can't get to them and that birds won't be able to eat the bodies... in other words fine somewhere like a greenhouse but a bit of a challenge in the open garden!

I use them, but now I get the Erazer ones - they're rainproof, and its difficult to overdose, because the top on the container doesn't come off, it just twists up and allows out a limited number with each shake. The biggest problem is people just use too many, I've seen so many down in some gardens the soil looks blue - its not, its just too many pellets. A light sprinkle occasionally is perfectly adequate.

As for harm to birds, an RSPB report on this subject says there's no evidence of harm to birds, even if they eat a poisoned slug, which surprised me when I read it, I must say. Even hedgehogs don't seem to die from them, though they probably would if they ate half a pack.

Well, I've read mixed reports on whether the ingredients in slug pellets are harmful to other animals and wild life. The truth is, many of these reports are sponsored by the companies that actually manufacture the slug pellets so be careful to check your sources. Also, not EVERY ingredient is listed on the label.

Anywho: Here's an interesting report that might help you decide if you want to use slug pellets. I can't say yey or ney. You decide for yourself.

http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/gardening/warning-sluggo-toxic-for-people-and-wildlife-t3846.html

Interesting and thought provoking Bathgate!
Personally I don't use pellets anyway, just moan about the slugs and hope the hedgehog brings somes mates! We do have Thrushes as well who eat snails, long may they prosper.

I do not use them but the last 3-5 years I have been overwhelmed by slugs and snails, its so bad that if we leave the back door open after dusk they come in the house. Last night about 9pm there were over 30 of them on a small area of lawn.
I would use slug pellets if I could be sure they do not get in the food chain and harm the frogs, hedgehogs etc and cat in my garden.
I stopped watering in the evening and that helped but it has been so wet this month they are having a field day.
The fact that the number of hedgehogs has reduced so drastically that makes me doubt they are safe to use.

I use them inside a perspex shelter where I have cacti and other plants, because birds don't get in there to eat the infected slugs. I also use them inside the cold frames. I don't use them in the garden.

In the garden I've tried putting them under something eg a plank of wood at the edge of the plot, where the slugs hide in the daytime.

It really is about only using the right amount. The poisons in slug pellets are metabolised within the slug so, if you've used the right amount, there's nothing left to poison anything else that eats the slug.

Plus, of course, what poisons a slug won't necessarily poison anything else. Poisons work by reacting with chemicals in the victim either to produce something harmful or to deprive the victim of something essential.

The best slug pellets today use chemicals that don't react with anything a bird needs.

Most people that use slug pellets use far too many. Slugs are attracted to them by smell so by using too many you just attract those that wouldn't normally come into your garden. I use Sluggo but in a limited way.
If you put a teaspoon full in a glass jamjar or suchlike lay it on its side only by those plants that slugs like such as eg:hostas.
You will use far fewer pellets & they will not get wet & spoil.

Unfortunately some pellets are packaged in containers without a small hole for sprinkling. I think this is why some people appear to have put down a lot more than they intended as they come rushing out before you can stop them. It has happened to me and its quite hard to pick up enough to put it right. When you are expecting it you can be prepared. GF that's a brilliant idea - will give it a try.

We could really do with a tips page, as there are many scattered throughout Goy yet it's hit & miss to find them.

I don't have a slug issue so thankfully I don't need to use it. Raccoons? That's another story. They are tomato thieves & don't care if you know it. They will take you on.

Hi Green finger re your wanting a tips page - I did nominate this for the slugs page as I think it is worth keeping. Personally I think a tips page would be hard to negotiate once time has passed since the tip was posted, so try looking under the heading you want tips on such as 'slugs' or 'patio ideas' and if its been mentioned you may well find it there.
Finally if you think a picture, question or blog is worth noting do'nt forget you can nominate it in the hope it will be accepted.

Thanks for nominating it. I take your point about a tips page being impractical - much more sensible to place under headings.
Do we still have admin/ techie person(s) for goy?

I dont know how it is run I am just a member like you GF

The two 'boys' are still there dealing with admin and tech issues but they don't deal with nominations to Goypeadia, this is did by some of the members who volunteered. I do some pages but these days nominations are few and far between.

Thanks for explaining MG.

MG perhaps that's because we have lots of newer members who aren't aware of the system. Perhaps a bit of publicity might help? I know I never think of nominating just because i forget its possible. Terra used to be active on goypedia but she hasn't posted for ages.

I think Terra used to do a lot of the pages...

I do most pages and have done this for some years. Terra and David are down for a lot of pages but I do not know if they still do them. It takes quite a commitment as its time consuming. I agree with Moongrower there are few nominations and these are welcome for the editors to consider, but at least the bad ones we used to get have stopped.

That is true Drc...