Snail incubation and cold protection in Ireland

Hellotree

Hi,
Does anyone know how I could protect snails against the frost? How would I incubate them in Ireland? Is it necessary? I am about to start snail farming and could do with all the advice I can get.

I look forward to hearing back from you

Suckler

You harvest them in September/October so they shouldt be out for the winter. Insulated shed for those you want to keep. Ones outside will bury in to the soil themselves but you won't know what you have left come the following April/May.

Hellotree

Thank you very much

Hellotree

How do I prepare the field? Clear it of pests/disease, unnecessary foiliage and native snails?

wexandproud

just wondering how things are going with the snails . i have just started down here in wexford

_Brian

wexandproud wrote: »

just wondering how things are going with the snails . i have just started down here in wexford

Love to hear more and see photos if you could.

wexandproud

_Brian wrote: »

Love to hear more and see photos if you could.

pm sent

wexandproud

one photo of the snails taken before woken from hibernation ..the other photo is take after their first feed 24 hours later . have them in an insulated container at about 18 -20 deg during the day with lights on at moment foe about 12 hours a day [increasing slightly every few days] . temp drops at night to try and mimic spring /summer
can load a few more pics later if anyone interested

Odelay

wexandproud wrote: »

one photo of the snails taken before woken from hibernation ..the other photo is take after their first feed 24 hours later . have them in an insulated container at about 18 -20 deg during the day with lights on at moment foe about 12 hours a day [increasing slightly every few days] . temp drops at night to try and mimic spring /summer
can load a few more pics later if anyone interested

One of those pictures looks like the afters of a wedding!

wexandproud

what the fcuk kind of weddings do you be at::D
will post a better one later

_Brian

Very interesting stuff.
And without going into specifics do you find it a financially viable business, I presume the market is France ?

wexandproud

there is a couple of guys down here say the market is strong and both of them seem to have a demand and are willing to buy the product. Im involved in the shellfish business and have made a few enquires myself but still still waiting on word back , they all say demand is there its just trying to find the right person in that line of work.
On the face of it its seems like a viable project . set up costs were not all that high as we already had a polytunnel and a loan of container . 7-8k will go a long way because of that

ps sent you a pm Brian . did you get it

_Brian

No. Pm didn't come.

Suckler

_Brian wrote: »

, I presume the market is France ?

Poland is the main buyer.

wexandproud

Suckler wrote: »

Poland is the main buyer.

france ,spain ,greece and italy . poland is one of the main suppilers but i believe there is some sort of a ban on them at the moment , im trying to find out more

Neegalway

My husband is hoping to start snail farming this April. How is the market at the moment?

wexandproud

to cut a long story short the thing was a disaster for us as we were fooled by one of the ''experts'' and we were sold parasite infected snails so we got very few baby snais [5000] so we had none to sell . From talking to other people down here , demand and prices were good . about 4 euro kg dont know if that includes delivery costs

patsy_mccabe

Was this snail expert a Cattle Dealer in a previous life? :cool:

wexandproud

no , not that im aware of , south african fella , he fooled a lot of people and he was eventually found out .Himself and his husband have since done a runner and left owing a few people . not gonna name name's here .

kerryjack

A south African gay snail supplier in wexford and you haven't named him LOL

wexandproud

kerryjack wrote: »

A south African gay snail supplier in wexford and you haven't named him LOL

exactly. those who know a little about what went on will know him . those who don't are still non the wiser

runawaybishop

kerryjack wrote: »

A south African gay snail supplier in wexford and you haven't named him LOL

not hard to google in fairness

Say my name

kerryjack wrote: »

A south African gay snail supplier in wexford and you haven't named him LOL

runawaybishop wrote: »

not hard to google in fairness

A south African selling gay snails in Wexford.

You must have a different Google cos I'm not getting anything.

White Clover

I thought it was gay South African snails??!!

Say my name

White Clover wrote: »

I thought it was gay South African snails??!!

Thanks.

I'll try that instead.

Say my name

White Clover wrote: »

I thought it was gay South African snails??!!

I think I found it now!

http://www.mambaonline.com/2014/10/14/meet-new-gay-marriage-snail/

ganmo

Say my name wrote: »

I think I found it now!

http://www.mambaonline.com/2014/10/14/meet-new-gay-marriage-snail/

You're very Wit-ty

Say my name

ganmo wrote: »

You're very Wit-ty

Thats gone way over my head.

Wit-ty??

ganmo

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/its-all-about-snails-for-farmer-stephan-de-wit-35270286.html
I'm guessing

Say my name

I definitely get you now.
I was only codding btw.

Neegalway

Oh sorry to hear that. He's just bought 250000 baby snails so I really hope it goes ok!! If anybody has any good advice or tips to starting up snail farming and making it successful I'd really appreciate it! Thanks

wexandproud

where did he get baby snails this time of year ? gonna have to keep them indoors and warm for a long time

Chisler2

wexandproud wrote: »

where did he get baby snails this time of year ? gonna have to keep them indoors and warm for a long time

And so it begins!

fishmanbin

What sort of heating systems are ye using for incubating the eggs? And also when you bring them into a shed for breading, do you have to have that kept at a constant 20° also? Or is thst just for incubating? Thank you.