There's an organic apple grower north of Napa that uses ducks to control slugs in their orchard, swears by them. Forgot their name, sorry. They don't scratch and you can trim flight feathers and they lay and the males don't crow.

Dan

Check out permaculture sites: ducks are a favourite in the war against slugs...

I had 2 white ducks years ago and I would always toss them slugs and grub worms while out working in the yard and garden. They automatically came running when they saw me with a shovel! They are also a lot of fun to have. Big personalities!

Since ducks are not feasible living in the city - I use a pair of tweezers and a quart jar to hold salt water and walk my beds early in the morning or shortly after a rain shower. -

Ducks lay longer then most hens too.