What nutritional deficiency could cause a crooked sternum in a chicken?

A crooked sternum in a chicken is primarily associated with rickets, which is caused by deficiencies in calcium or phosphorus. Rickets is a disease that affects the skeletal system and results in the weakening and deformations of bones. In poultry, inadequate calcium or phosphorus disrupts the mineralization of bones, leading to a range of skeletal deformities, including a crooked sternum.

Calcium is essential for bone formation, while phosphorus plays a critical role in energy transfer and contributes to the structural integrity of bones. When birds do not receive sufficient amounts of these nutrients, the bones can become soft and improperly shaped, resulting in noticeable issues like a crooked sternum. Proper nutrition, particularly in terms of calcium and phosphorus, is crucial for maintaining the health of a chicken's skeletal system throughout its growth and development. This makes the connection between these deficiencies and skeletal deformities particularly vital to understand in poultry management and care.