AbstractBackgroundMedicinal herbs as classes of additives to poultry feeds have proven to be beneficial due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.ObjectiveA 6‐week study was conducted to assess the effects ofAloe vera(Aloe barbadensisM.) as an alternative to antibiotics on the growth performance, carcass traits and haemato‐biochemical parameters of broiler chickens.MethodsA total of 240 unsexed commercial broiler chickens, 2 weeks old, were randomly allocated to four treatments: T1 (negative control), T2 (positive control, 1 g/L oxytetracycline), T3 (0.5%Aloe veragel extract) and T4 (1%Aloe veragel extract) in a completely randomised design (CRD), with six replicates of 10 birds per replicate. TheAloe veragel extract was administered in fresh drinking water.ResultsThe results revealed across all the treatment groups, no significant (p> 0.05) differences were found in terms of growth performance and carcass traits. However, the mortality rate was significantly lower (p< 0.05) in the positive control and theAloe veragroups compared to the negative control. Total cholesterol, total glucose, and high‐density lipoprotein values for the experimental groups (T3 and T4) were significantly (p< 0.05) lower than those of the control groups. The values for red blood cell count, haemoglobin content, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration for the birds treated withAloe vera gelwere significantly (p< 0.05) higher than those of the control groups.ConclusionsIt is therefore concluded that the addition ofAloe veragel extracts up to 1% in the drinking water could replace antibiotics in broiler chickens without any adverse effects on the health status and the performance of birds.