Hens ratting aloe plant

[califrame]

My 2 Hens which are about 3 months old have taken to eatting my big aloe plant in the backyard... will they be ok?

 

[lazy gardener]

Yeah, they will. Though, I'm not sure about the aloe! That may not survive! They sell aloe juice in the health food stores!

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Eating the aloe plant probably won't hurt them.....
.....unless they gorge the whole thing down at once, then <shrug> who knows?

Your pullets(not hens until one year of age) can potentially destroy just about any vegetation they can get at.
Time to start fencing off the plants you want to survive so the chooks can't get at them.

 

[pvaldes]

Aloe has two parts, the inner tasteless transparent gel is probably safe. My chickens seem interested and eat it gladly when available. The outer skin (green part) has some nasty products to protect the plant, and is better to discard it.

Aloe vera gel is 99% water therefore would be a good way to rehydrate chicken that refuse to drink or can't drink for some reason. If your pullet are interested on it maybe they need you to refill their water source.