Any reason not to toss these shrub clippings into my run?

[flyin-lowe]

After just over 1 month as expected my chicks have the run basically down to mud. I started trimming shrubs around my house tonight, is there any reason that I should throw this into the run? From what I can tell online they are some type of "boxwood" shrubs. They do not ever flower or have any berries, just small leaves. My plan is to use garden waste, leaves, grass clippings etc. in the run.

 

[sunflour]

Those are boxwoods and resources list them as mildly toxic. Free range chickens reportedly do avoid toxic plants, but flocks raised in confinement in my experience will taste/eat anything we add that is green.

So, IMO - toss those elsewhere to be safe.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Thanks I'll pitch them, not worth the risk.

 

[sunflour]

Thanks I'll pitch them, not worth the risk.

They also don't compost well, so best to toss those.

I made a mistake once of tossing loads of apple cores in the compost - and then read the seeds were toxic.
Now I check out lists before letting the gals access that area.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Funny thing, I haven't even raked them out of my yard yet. This morning when i left for work there was a duck sitting in the pile in that picture near the sidewalk, like she was going to nest there. I have a lake near my house but no water real close. I thought it was kind of funny.