Prickly Pear?

[RJSchaefer]

I was given a ton of prickly pears. Can I feed them to my chickens? I found ONE site that says yes, but nothing else.

 

[chfite]

Well, you could give them one and see what happens.

Chris

 

[pegm]

Well, I don't know about prickly pear, but one day I burned myself and went and ripped of an aloe stalk and applied some of the inside aloe to the burn. Decided WTH and threw the stalk into the run to see what would happen. Man, it was chicken keep away. They LOVED it. Very weird. I've done it a couple more times and the same reaction. Scrimmage time. I would think it would be about the same thing with the cactus.

 

[Aphrael]

I have given mine prickly pears and they ate them up. I usually burn off the prickers and cut them in have before tossing them in to them so they can get to the seeds and inner flesh easier. They like the really ripe ones much better than the lesser ripe ones though. I usually don't pluck them until just the lightest tug makes them fall right off. Oh and that is the best time to pick them for making jelly or syrup as well.