Daily Halacha Wednesday-Halachic Hazards relating to raising livestock and owning pets:

Halachic Hazards relating to raising livestock and owning pets:

Calves-Raising a calf born to one’s animal:[1] [Tzavah of Rav Yehuda Hachassid/Achronim]

One is not to raise a calf that was born from one’s animal. [This matter is mere good advice and not an actual prohibition as is evident from the Talmud.[2] However, the world is not accustomed to being stringent in this, and those who raise calves have upon whom to rely, as Shomer Pesaim Hashem.[3]]

Cow-A cow which bore twin calves, chicken which laid two eggs:[4] [Tzavah of Rav Yehuda Hachassid/Achronim]

If a cow bore twin calves or a chicken laid two eggs, then it is to be slaughtered right away [at that moment[5], or at least within 24 hours[6]]. [One is to slaughter the chicken, and both the mother cow and its calves.[7] However, if one desires to delay slaughtering the calves until they are older, then one may do so.[8] One should be stringent in this even if the calves were not born together but rather one after the other, with some time in between.[9] Some Poskim[10] rule that as an alternative to slaughtering the calves and the mother cow, one can simply sell it to a Gentile, or trade it with other animals of a Gentile. However, it does not suffice to sell a pregnant cow to a Gentile prior to birth in order to avoid this worry.[11]]

Cats [Talmud/Rishonim/Achronim]

Not to feed human blood to a cat:[12] One who feeds the blood of a human to a cat, causes the person from whom the blood originated from to become weak.

Cat in home:[13] One is not to walk barefoot in a house with a cat inside as perhaps he has killed a snake and left its fangs on the floor which can penetrate one’s skin. [Practically, however, there is no longer a need to be careful in this.[14]]

Black cat:[15] It is forbidden to kill a black cat due to danger.

Doves and pigeons-Having a pet dove or pigeon:[16] [Kabbalah/Achronim]

It is not a good idea for one to raise a pet pigeon or dove, as a house in which such birds are raised in, or one’s children may die G-d forbid, or one may not have children to begin with.

Turned over a vessel:[17] [Tzavaas Rebbe Yehuda Hachassid ]

Any chicken or animal which has turned over a vessel is to be immediately slaughtered [within 24 hours[18], or at least within a few days[19]]. [Some Poskim[20] rule that this only applies if the chicken has turned the vessel onto itself.]

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[1] Tzavaas Rebbe Yehuda Hachassid 66; Shemiras Hanefesh 237; Kaf Hachaim 116:116; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 246:4

[2] Kaf Hachaim ibid, based on Shabbos 54b

[3] Kaf Hachaim ibid

[4] Tzavaas Rebbe Yehuda Hachassid 43; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 248:1-5

[5] Minchas Elazar 3:13

[6] Ketzei Hamateh

[7] Mili Dechassidusa ibid

[8] Mili Dechassidusa ibid

[9] Mili Dechassidusa ibid

[10] Mili Dechassidusa ibid; Maharsham on Sefer Chassidim ibid; Shivim Temarim ibid rules in name of elderly Rabbanim that they permitted to then borrow back the same cows from the gentile after selling it to him

[11] Erech Shaiy Y.D. 116

[12] Rashi Shabbos 75b; Tosafus Niddah 17a; Shemiras Hanefesh 32 [33]; Shulchan Chaiy 19; Kaf Hachaim 116:151; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 35:1; See Yifei Laleiv 3 Y.D. 116:12; Darkei Teshuvah 116:81

[13] Pesachim 112b; Peri Chadash Y.D. 116:9

[14] Darkei Teshuvah 116:9

[15] Sefer Hakaneh; Shemira Meilya 125; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 249:3

[16] Negid Umitzvah 2 p. 83a in name of Rav Chaim Vital; Shemiras Hanefesh 235; Zivcheiy Tzedek 116:144; Kaf Hachaim 116:117; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 246:2

[17] Tzavaas Rebbe Yehuda Hachassid 50; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 247:1

[18] Ketzei Hamateh

[19] Mili Dechassidusa ibid

[20] Shivim Temarim ibid