What is the risk posed by chicken necks or backs in a hawk's diet?

Chicken necks and backs pose a risk due to the potential for physical danger when included in a hawk's diet. These parts of poultry can contain small bones that may splinter. Such splinters can lead to injuries in a hawk's digestive tract or pose a choking hazard, which could ultimately result in serious health issues.

In comparison, the other options are not accurate concerns regarding the feeding of chicken necks or backs to hawks. For example, while the leanness or fat content could affect a bird's diet, these factors are less critical than the physical dangers presented by bone fragments. Similarly, the protein content of chicken necks and backs is typically adequate for a hawk's dietary needs, further corroborating that the primary concern lies in potential physical injury rather than nutritional deficiencies. Thus, focusing on the dangers associated with small bones provides a better understanding of why caution should be exercised when incorporating these parts into a hawk's diet.