Wilson (the January rescue dog) needed to go outside about 4:30 this afternoon. The heavy mist had turned to actual rain; snails were hanging on the plants almost like fruit (again). While he busied himself in the back "yard" under the redwood tree, I started the search-and-destroy mission. 
65 molluscs and maybe 12 to 15 minutes later, he came looking for me. Silly boy; didn't stay under the tree! He must have waited by the back door, where there isn't any overhang. He was dripping wet. But, being a Bernese Mtg Dog/Sheep, just the coat and his face were wet. He was still warm and dry under all that hair. So I got a towel and blotted him more or less dry before letting him inside to shake it all over everything!
That was a total of 115 today. I'm done for the day, even though it's just now getting dark; I think I'm fighting off the virus DH brought home from his work this week. Grrr....
Total is now: 912 + 65 = 977
Good grief.
Cynthia
65 molluscs and maybe 12 to 15 minutes later, he came looking for me. Silly boy; didn't stay under the tree! He must have waited by the back door, where there isn't any overhang. He was dripping wet. But, being a Bernese Mtg Dog/Sheep, just the coat and his face were wet. He was still warm and dry under all that hair. So I got a towel and blotted him more or less dry before letting him inside to shake it all over everything!
That was a total of 115 today. I'm done for the day, even though it's just now getting dark; I think I'm fighting off the virus DH brought home from his work this week. Grrr....
Total is now: 912 + 65 = 977
Good grief.
Cynthia
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30551
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Cynthia, you inspired me to go out early-ish around 7:30AM this misty morning and do a slug hunt. I DID NOT count them or I would end up joining you in tallying up the daly slug count. Besides, my "do not count" emergency relief switch was still thrown from the last slug count 
Suffice it to say I filled a 6" diameter bowl of soapy water, and I mean FILLED.
I should really go out there now since the sun's starting to go down, but I turned my compost pile today and am not up to bending down and peering st the ground.
Suffice it to say I filled a 6" diameter bowl of soapy water, and I mean FILLED.
I should really go out there now since the sun's starting to go down, but I turned my compost pile today and am not up to bending down and peering st the ground.
Still fighting them slimers Cynthia?cynthia_h wrote:The Decollate Snails sound interesting, but I'm in Contra Costa County, which isn't on the approved list. How do those who use Decollates for control of brown snails (which aren't as severe in the areas you list) keep them from getting out of control, too?
Cynthia
I don't have much snails/slugs, and San Diego is another known place for em. I noticed this early spring, that I have some Decollate snails in a few areas of the yard. They appear to be in the winter rain runoff areas-which is away from the beds.
Wonder if I could get them to pro create?
And what is up with the endangered snail list? escargot?
Live Predatory Snails - Decollate Snail (Rumina decollata)
The US Department of Fish and Game limits the release of Decollate snails due to certain areas having local snails that are on the endangered species list. Currently the release of Decollate Snails is limited AZ, NM, TX, and CA. Release in California is limited to the following counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties. The release of the Decollate snails elsewhere is restricted or prohibited. Check with your local Ag department
Live Predatory Snails - Decollate Snail (Rumina decollata)
The US Department of Fish and Game limits the release of Decollate snails due to certain areas having local snails that are on the endangered species list. Currently the release of Decollate Snails is limited AZ, NM, TX, and CA. Release in California is limited to the following counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties. The release of the Decollate snails elsewhere is restricted or prohibited. Check with your local Ag department
[Boggle the mind...endangered SNAILS???]
Ahem. Trying to regain control of my hands at the keyboard here...
Where did you find mention of a list of endangered snails? The common brown snail, nemesis of California/Oregon gardeners, is an introduced invasive (I.e., non-native) species. It can hardly be considered "endangered," even by a benighted bureaucrat. I hope.
But, anyway, if you have an url for me to read and become infuriated--oops! of course I mean "inspired"--so that I may correspond with our tax-supported governmental representatives about this threatened mollusc, please do provide it.
Been slow here for finding them lately. Thank God. Only 29 since my last post!
977 + 29 = 1,006
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
Ahem. Trying to regain control of my hands at the keyboard here...
Where did you find mention of a list of endangered snails? The common brown snail, nemesis of California/Oregon gardeners, is an introduced invasive (I.e., non-native) species. It can hardly be considered "endangered," even by a benighted bureaucrat. I hope.
But, anyway, if you have an url for me to read and become infuriated--oops! of course I mean "inspired"--so that I may correspond with our tax-supported governmental representatives about this threatened mollusc, please do provide it.
Been slow here for finding them lately. Thank God. Only 29 since my last post!
977 + 29 = 1,006
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
woah,
Cynthia,
Introduced here:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43951&start=15
From the decollate snail source:
https://gardeningzone.com/pages/live-snails-rumina-decollata
Endangered snails???, so perusing I found:
The Trinity Bristle Snail
https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html
https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/docs/2004/t_einverts.pdf
Cynthia,
Introduced here:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43951&start=15
From the decollate snail source:
https://gardeningzone.com/pages/live-snails-rumina-decollata
Endangered snails???, so perusing I found:
The Trinity Bristle Snail
https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html
https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/docs/2004/t_einverts.pdf
-
rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
So you guys finally inspired me and I went out in my garden at 2AM armed with a pair of tongs and a bowl of hot salt water, looking for the slugs that have been chewing holes in my broccoli and pepper plants.
The first plant I looked at had no (visible?) slugs, but a bunch of earwigs. Would their damage look similar? I managed to shake about six of them into the salt water.
The rest of the plants I looked at had slugs, anywhere from one to three per plant that I could find. Does that make sense, that one not real big slug could practically skeletonize a big broccoli plant? I looked under the leaves and everywhere. Where do you find them?
Of course, the broccoli are the plants that live inside the deer netting cage. So I'm trying to lift the deer netting and the tongs keep getting tangled in it. So I'm trying to manage the netting and the flashlight and the tongs... And the slugs aren't fast, but they do move, always away from the light. In a couple cases all I managed to do was knock them off the plants, which I'm sure is very temporary.
So what do you use to grab the snails with? Maybe snails aren't as gross to hand pick, having shells... No way I could bring myself to grab a slug with my hand... But spaghetti tongs did not seem to be the ideal instrument!
All very creepy and gross! The things we do for love!
The first plant I looked at had no (visible?) slugs, but a bunch of earwigs. Would their damage look similar? I managed to shake about six of them into the salt water.
The rest of the plants I looked at had slugs, anywhere from one to three per plant that I could find. Does that make sense, that one not real big slug could practically skeletonize a big broccoli plant? I looked under the leaves and everywhere. Where do you find them?
Of course, the broccoli are the plants that live inside the deer netting cage. So I'm trying to lift the deer netting and the tongs keep getting tangled in it. So I'm trying to manage the netting and the flashlight and the tongs... And the slugs aren't fast, but they do move, always away from the light. In a couple cases all I managed to do was knock them off the plants, which I'm sure is very temporary.
So what do you use to grab the snails with? Maybe snails aren't as gross to hand pick, having shells... No way I could bring myself to grab a slug with my hand... But spaghetti tongs did not seem to be the ideal instrument!
All very creepy and gross! The things we do for love!
-
lorax
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:48 pm
- Location: Ecuador, USDA Zone 13, at 10,000' of altitude
RBG, one slug the size of your pinkie finger can eat: an entire head of lettuce, five or six leaves of chard, most of the leaves off of any crucifer (I fight with slugs for the right to grow Romanesco), and any ripe tomato withing sliming distance.
For slugs, I find them not so much on the plants as in the moist areas of the garden - under my bricks, near boards, against the walls (on the walls, even), and at the edges of the grass. Oh yes, and at the bases of the beets, which they don't eat but do slime up something fierce.
My slug count for the year is nearing 1,000, and I'm not dealing with the piddly little garden slugs that y'all are complaining about either. No, I've got banana slugs, which are longer and fatter around than my thumb. I have a picture of them somewhere.
I use a fork and a 1L takeout tub half-filled with very salty water.
For slugs, I find them not so much on the plants as in the moist areas of the garden - under my bricks, near boards, against the walls (on the walls, even), and at the edges of the grass. Oh yes, and at the bases of the beets, which they don't eat but do slime up something fierce.
My slug count for the year is nearing 1,000, and I'm not dealing with the piddly little garden slugs that y'all are complaining about either. No, I've got banana slugs, which are longer and fatter around than my thumb. I have a picture of them somewhere.
I use a fork and a 1L takeout tub half-filled with very salty water.
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30551
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
I usually go slug hunting in early morning just before or after sunup. They generally on their way to their hideout and stretched out and moving, making them easy to spot. I use a hori hori knife to scoop them up, though I have used chopsticks before (the chopsticks eventually become slimy and unusable, then you just stab them into the dirt a couple of times to get the slime off).
When scooping them up, they curl up when you touch them and sort of fall over onto the knife. I put them in very mild soapy water.
To get them off plants, I do use my hands some times -- spread fingers gently hold the stem or leaf and move hand up -- the slug drops off into your hand/fingers the moment you (nearly) touch them.
When scooping them up, they curl up when you touch them and sort of fall over onto the knife.
I put them in very mild soapy water.To get them off plants, I do use my hands some times -- spread fingers gently hold the stem or leaf and move hand up -- the slug drops off into your hand/fingers the moment you (nearly) touch them.
Tongs are too blunt and smooth to get a slug. I can only imagine how frustrating it was. 
I use twigs, my weed stick, the edge of a trowel, or similar for slugs. For snails, I grab 'em by the shell and drop 'em on the ground and...send them back to Mother Earth via my shoe. Slugs go back to Mother Earth too, but via the twig/weed stick/trowel, *then* the shoe, etc.
If you imagine that only 10% of the nutritional value of what an organism eats is really incorporated into that organism, then you can readily understand the wanton destruction these slithery, slimy slugs wreak out of all proportion to their size.
And, Lorax, there are banana slugs in California, but ...¡Gracias a Dios! not in the East Bay.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
I use twigs, my weed stick, the edge of a trowel, or similar for slugs. For snails, I grab 'em by the shell and drop 'em on the ground and...send them back to Mother Earth via my shoe.
Slugs go back to Mother Earth too, but via the twig/weed stick/trowel, *then* the shoe, etc. If you imagine that only 10% of the nutritional value of what an organism eats is really incorporated into that organism, then you can readily understand the wanton destruction these slithery, slimy slugs wreak out of all proportion to their size.
And, Lorax, there are banana slugs in California, but ...¡Gracias a Dios! not in the East Bay.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
Last edited by cynthia_h on Sun May 27, 2012 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Realized that I haven't updated all my on-line friends with recent Snail Slayings!
Last weekend, our next-door neighbors (to the north; the "good" ones) told us that Mr. Neighbor has received his dream job offer from Stanford University. Commuting from El Cerrito to Stanford every day really isn't practical; one either is on the freeway in heavy traffic for approx. 2 hours each way *or* in/on public transit for approx. 3.25 hours each way. Yes, DH and I can drive to Palo Alto (home of Stanford) in approx. 1+ hour on a weekend, but believe me--during the week, it's brutal. I've done it a few times, and it's always painful.
So...they're moving. They just purchased the house in Spring 2010, fairly recently for this part of the neighborhood, and always knew (but, admirably in these times, kept it private) they might be leaving, but weren't sure when/if it would happen. So, to help them show their house to best advantage, DH and I finally attacked...the north side of our house, the 3 or 4 feet of property-line setback where those weeds that love shade and wet love to grow. This task takes place once or twice a year, b/c we simply don't *use* the 3 or 4 feet of easement.
Well. Need I say more? Snails by the dozens, the scores, no! the hundreds! had been making free on our property, with our plants, etc. They have now been returned to...well...not exactly "Mother Earth" in all cases, since they were on the siding or foundation of the house or on the broken pavement of the easement and smashed in situ, but extinguished summarily all the same.
And now, to the numbers. On Sunday, May 20:
1,006 + 251 = 1,257
And just a few today, as we weeded the north verge:
1,257 + 11 = 1,268
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
Last weekend, our next-door neighbors (to the north; the "good" ones) told us that Mr. Neighbor has received his dream job offer from Stanford University. Commuting from El Cerrito to Stanford every day really isn't practical; one either is on the freeway in heavy traffic for approx. 2 hours each way *or* in/on public transit for approx. 3.25 hours each way. Yes, DH and I can drive to Palo Alto (home of Stanford) in approx. 1+ hour on a weekend, but believe me--during the week, it's brutal. I've done it a few times, and it's always painful.
So...they're moving. They just purchased the house in Spring 2010, fairly recently for this part of the neighborhood, and always knew (but, admirably in these times, kept it private) they might be leaving, but weren't sure when/if it would happen. So, to help them show their house to best advantage, DH and I finally attacked...the north side of our house, the 3 or 4 feet of property-line setback where those weeds that love shade and wet love to grow. This task takes place once or twice a year, b/c we simply don't *use* the 3 or 4 feet of easement.
Well. Need I say more? Snails by the dozens, the scores, no! the hundreds! had been making free on our property, with our plants, etc. They have now been returned to...well...not exactly "Mother Earth" in all cases, since they were on the siding or foundation of the house or on the broken pavement of the easement and smashed in situ, but extinguished summarily all the same.
And now, to the numbers. On Sunday, May 20:
1,006 + 251 = 1,257
And just a few today, as we weeded the north verge:
1,257 + 11 = 1,268
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
The reclaiming of our garden continues. The weekend of June 3 and June 10, DH and I weeded Box #1 (cinder blocks stacked two deep), the 4'x8' box, and its immediate surrounds, including the Doughty Sorrel Plant. Well. That was another 148 snails and slugs.
1,268 + 148 = 1,416
Then, after transplanting veggie starts into Box #1 and sunflower starts into the north verge to make it look as if we actually take regular care of our yard/garden for any prospective home buyers *sigh* of the immediately northern property, I performed two night snail patrols. The snails seem to be losing heart (or dare I hope that our efforts are, at last, paying off?).
1,416 + 17 = 1,433 for the season so far...
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
1,268 + 148 = 1,416
Then, after transplanting veggie starts into Box #1 and sunflower starts into the north verge to make it look as if we actually take regular care of our yard/garden for any prospective home buyers *sigh* of the immediately northern property, I performed two night snail patrols.
The snails seem to be losing heart (or dare I hope that our efforts are, at last, paying off?).1,416 + 17 = 1,433 for the season so far...
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
-
Tina_n_Max
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:20 am
- Location: Zone 6-CT
Hi, Cynthia
I'm new to this forum as of a couple of days ago.
I know this is an older post but thanks to this forum I finally figured out what gobbled up my flowers to about 3 inch stems in a matter of days.
The plants include 2 coreopsis, 2 daisy may, 2 Jacob ladder, and purple cone flowers.
I just have to tell you that you have inspired me to go out this morning to catch some slugs and snails.
Thank goodness I don't have as many as you. I only caught 28 slugs and 2 snails.
I'm new to this forum as of a couple of days ago.
I know this is an older post but thanks to this forum I finally figured out what gobbled up my flowers to about 3 inch stems in a matter of days.
The plants include 2 coreopsis, 2 daisy may, 2 Jacob ladder, and purple cone flowers.
I just have to tell you that you have inspired me to go out this morning to catch some slugs and snails.
Thank goodness I don't have as many as you. I only caught 28 slugs and 2 snails.
It's time to introduce ...
The 2013 Snail Hunting Season! This year's season started somewhat later than the 2012 season, primarily due to (1) lack of rain and (2) canine health drama (my 105-lb Bernese Mtn. Dog rescue boy--not the same rescue boy as last year *sob*--was bitten by another dog 29 March 2013, neutered in late April, and bloated late night/early morning 14/15 June; my 13-y.o. Berner girl has had a difficult spring and I'm concerned about her continuing lack of interest in her favorite foods).
But today was The Day. Northern California had a highly unusual summer rain system pass through--according to the radar, we might even get more rain tomorrow!--and the snails were absolutely thrilled to come out of hiding and bathe themselves in the water from the sky. Heh, heh.
This afternoon I ran a couple of quick errands, including one to purchase Little Girl's *absolutely favorite* foods--sliced "people" roast beef!!!--on special at one of the local grocery stores this week. I got home approx. 2:00, during a fairly steady shower, and thought I'd see whether there were any snails hanging on the arugula.
No, they weren't on the arugula, but WOW! they were everywhere else: in the valerian; on the planting strip, sidewalk, and paved pathways; in the ivy, the geraniums, the camellia bushes, the naked ladies, the jade plants, the miner's lettuce, the chicory (flowering right now); climbing up the containers where I grow herbs; on the ground, and just about everywhere my eyes happened to look. Many of them, I didn't even need to move--I simply stepped on them in situ, counting all the while.
This evening, I attended a meeting from approx. 7:00 to 8:45. It wasn't quite full dark when I got home, but I figured I'd do Phase 2 of the Snail Hunt, just in case the afternoon areas had been repopulated.
They had.
Same story, plus flashlight.
87 snails this afternoon + 64 this evening = 151 to start the 2013 season off!
Cynthia
The 2013 Snail Hunting Season! This year's season started somewhat later than the 2012 season, primarily due to (1) lack of rain and (2) canine health drama (my 105-lb Bernese Mtn. Dog rescue boy--not the same rescue boy as last year *sob*--was bitten by another dog 29 March 2013, neutered in late April, and bloated late night/early morning 14/15 June; my 13-y.o. Berner girl has had a difficult spring and I'm concerned about her continuing lack of interest in her favorite foods).
But today was The Day.
Northern California had a highly unusual summer rain system pass through--according to the radar, we might even get more rain tomorrow!--and the snails were absolutely thrilled to come out of hiding and bathe themselves in the water from the sky. Heh, heh. This afternoon I ran a couple of quick errands, including one to purchase Little Girl's *absolutely favorite* foods--sliced "people" roast beef!!!--on special at one of the local grocery stores this week.
I got home approx. 2:00, during a fairly steady shower, and thought I'd see whether there were any snails hanging on the arugula.No, they weren't on the arugula, but WOW! they were everywhere else: in the valerian; on the planting strip, sidewalk, and paved pathways; in the ivy, the geraniums, the camellia bushes, the naked ladies, the jade plants, the miner's lettuce, the chicory (flowering right now); climbing up the containers where I grow herbs; on the ground, and just about everywhere my eyes happened to look. Many of them, I didn't even need to move--I simply stepped on them in situ, counting all the while.
This evening, I attended a meeting from approx. 7:00 to 8:45. It wasn't quite full dark when I got home, but I figured I'd do Phase 2 of the Snail Hunt, just in case the afternoon areas had been repopulated.
They had.
Same story, plus flashlight.
87 snails this afternoon + 64 this evening = 151 to start the 2013 season off!
Cynthia
It's unclear whether I had a "high hit percentage" yesterday or whether, overnight, the snails became much more clever.
This morning, just after the additional rain stopped, I went out Snail Hunting.
I found only 16 snails. If it rains again later today, I'll take another look. Otherwise, I'll be dis-covering snails as I cut back spent valerian and clear the north setback soon.
Cynthia
151 + 16 = 167 for 2013 "season"
This morning, just after the additional rain stopped, I went out Snail Hunting.
I found only 16 snails.
If it rains again later today, I'll take another look. Otherwise, I'll be dis-covering snails as I cut back spent valerian and clear the north setback soon. Cynthia
151 + 16 = 167 for 2013 "season"
Well, I find slugs and snails everyday. I just tossed 2 snails and 3 slugs I found while weeding my shrub border into the road hoping the cars would eventually squash them.
I found 2 more tomatoes gorged on by slugs, and I found one fat blond one. I am sure there are more. I put out more slug bait, but I am thinking they are becoming immune to the stuff.
I found 2 more tomatoes gorged on by slugs, and I found one fat blond one. I am sure there are more. I put out more slug bait, but I am thinking they are becoming immune to the stuff.
DH and I performed our annual 
clearing of the weeds on the north setback (4 feet or so of pavement) a couple of weeks ago.
Very "disappointing": maybe 24 snails.
I've picked off 2 or 3 here and there every couple of days until, Tuesday this week, I hit what's passing for a Mother Lode this year: 17 snails hiding in one plant near the street.
New Twist: One of the fellow scientists in DH's research team keeps chickens. DH took these 17 snails to her in a yogurt container with its lid perforated for air (gotta keep 'em alive until the chickens eat 'em ). Too bad we didn't have this arrangement in place a few weeks ago! But she and her chickens will now benefit; she'll keep track of the number of eggs laid before and after Snail Supplementation.
And this reminds me: I need to get my kale seeds going. She and her family absolutely love kale, but live in a much hotter Sunset climate zone than we do (they're in 14; we're in 17). It's been a while since we've gifted them with a batch of kale.
Snails for the 2013 season:
167 + 24 + 17 = 208
Cynthia
clearing of the weeds on the north setback (4 feet or so of pavement) a couple of weeks ago.Very "disappointing": maybe 24 snails.
I've picked off 2 or 3 here and there every couple of days until, Tuesday this week, I hit what's passing for a Mother Lode this year: 17 snails hiding in one plant near the street.
New Twist: One of the fellow scientists in DH's research team keeps chickens. DH took these 17 snails to her in a yogurt container with its lid perforated for air (gotta keep 'em alive until the chickens eat 'em
). Too bad we didn't have this arrangement in place a few weeks ago! But she and her chickens will now benefit; she'll keep track of the number of eggs laid before and after Snail Supplementation.And this reminds me: I need to get my kale seeds going. She and her family absolutely love kale, but live in a much hotter Sunset climate zone than we do (they're in 14; we're in 17). It's been a while since we've gifted them with a batch of kale.
Snails for the 2013 season:
167 + 24 + 17 = 208
Cynthia
Those snails to ChickenMom were the very last snails we've found. We took out the valerian last weekend--the first yard work we've done since my previous post in this thread. We found...one...snail. I may have depopulated the place! For now. I've learned, though, never to relax on the topic of snails. Sure as anything, if I grow/plant young plants, something will eat them.applestar wrote:Wow far cry from near... Or was that OVER 1000 you reported in previous years.
...is that good or bad now that you have the chicken arrangement?
Something with a rasping, walking stomach/foot (gastro-pod).
So 2013 is at 208 snails and holding; one snail found from mid-July to mid-September. Very weird.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
There was an unseasonal rain last Saturday. It absolutely POURED down rain for a couple of hours. I had to be at a meeting (quilt show committee, show is March 2014) during the heaviest rain, but had hopes that snails would be lured from their lairs by this rain. The large number of snails in late June had been drawn out of cover by unseasonal rain, too.
I drove home while the rain was tapering off and lost 10 minutes while looking for the "official snail container for the chickens."
I forced a strawberry clamshell into service. Quite a while later, I had a collection of 45 snails for the chickens.
208 + 45 = 253, a weirdly low number. I'm definitely waiting for the other shoe(s) to drop!
Cynthia
by this rain. The large number of snails in late June had been drawn out of cover by unseasonal rain, too. I drove home while the rain was tapering off and lost 10 minutes while looking for the "official snail container for the chickens."
I forced a strawberry clamshell into service. Quite a while later, I had a collection of 45 snails for the chickens. 208 + 45 = 253, a weirdly low number. I'm definitely waiting for the other shoe(s) to drop!
Cynthia