Snails Eating Bird Food

[Jennykenny]

In the last month or so garden snails have been queuing up to get on to my bird table, up to a dozen at a time, and munching the bird food. They also manage to swing, Tarzan style, onto the bird feeders and hang there for ever, until I knock them off.
I tried changing brand of food, but still they come.
Any thoughts??

[murraymints]

Slug and snail pellets around base of feeder !

[ladybirder]

If you use slug pellets make sure they don't kill the birds as well!

You could try putting grit or broken eggshells around the base of the feeder.

[Arksided]

Try lager around the base... it's a good repellent apparently.

As for the ninja type swinging slugs... well that is scary! :-)

[roopower]

A few plastic cups of cheap beer, sunk into the ground nearby might help - slugs and snails love it. They fall in, I suppose when they're drunk!, and die a happy death. Bit nasty to get rid of though

[RATTER15]

Grease the base of the bird table in something like Vaseline.

[roopower]

I remember seeing some copper tape, or similar at a garden centre, maybe some of that wrapped round the pole

[Jennykenny]

Thanks to all. (Would never use slug pellets.)

[Jennykenny]

But will try the eggshell tip.

[heathfield]

I'll say it again...Make sure any beer trap is hedgehog proof. They like beer, get drunk, wander the streets and get run over.

[sandyRoe]

Do some birds eat snails?

[heathfield]

Thrushes do Sandy. They're well known for it, breaking the shell on an 'anvil stone'.

[pusskin]

Agree with RATTER. Grease oil, anything slippery around areas the snails climb up.

[1ozzy]

I'd go with the cheap beer system.
At least they will pass away with big dopey grins on their faces.
Although there may be some rather artistic "snail trails" to clean up afterwards.

[1ozzy]

A big YES Methyl.
Can't think of a better use for Fosters.
:-)

[1ozzy]

"Do some birds eat snails?"
Good question SandyRoe!
I'm sure some do.
What effect would it have on the birds if the snails were inebriated?

[WELSHYORKIE]

1ozzy - could end up with a stonedchat

[1ozzy]

@WELSHYORKIE.
If you do please post a video :-)
Then look after the poor little thing.

[ladybirder]

Jenny if you do use the broken eggshell method, make sure you make the circle a good width across. I would say 10cm (4") at least. Better get cracking boiling those eggs.