Henna for chickens- camouflage?

[CombNWattles]

So, I like to mess around with henna sometimes (the skin decorating type) and I had this thought- can you put henna on chicken feathers? It’s a paste made of henna powder and eucalyptus oil. Would they be ok if they pecked at it?
I have a white giant hen who likes to hang out under cover a lot, and I was wondering if I applied some brown speckles if she might be more confident. just an idle thought.

 

[TooCheep]

Hanging out under cover for much of the day is perfectly normal for free ranging chickens. That is how chickens protect themselves from both sun/heat and overhead predators (hawks/etc).

As for the henna and eucalyptus oil, the chickens will almost certainly consume some of that during normal grooming and more if they find it annoying and want if off. I wouldn't do it unless you were 100% sure they could eat it safely.