Love the idea of chickens clearing them up - Mrs el Gnomo would love to keep some but at present we live in a high density area with only a small back yard. Maybe when we move.

Very few thrushes but we do get blackbirds - I believe they eat slugs and snails but I haven't witnessed it. One theory I heard about the increasing slug population was the increase of magpies. Because maggies reduce the population of other birds, such as blackbirds and thrushes (sat on every greep spray?) the slugs increase. Dunno if it is right.

Looks like hand picking, beer traps, copper tape and iron phophates in combination will do it. Don't think we will be bothered much till spring now but I will keep all this in mind. Looks like I will have to kill the little blighters in any case! Sorry Lizzie but my love of nature does quite extend to gastropoda.

Thanks all

DeG