Capturing birds that are not tame often entails the ... the cranial and caudal margins of the keel bone should be palpated (Fig. 3a). These landmarks are important because the crop and the ...

The keel bone, which is a prominent bone in birds that supports the breast muscles, is particularly susceptible to fractures and deformities, especially in hens raised in intensive farming systems.

It also connects to the bird’s air sac system, which, in turn, connects to its lungs. The powerful flight muscles of the shoulder attach to the keel, a special ridge of bone that runs down the ...