House pets or any other animals that depend on you for their food, must be fed on Shabbat before one starts eating.
Animals that do not rely on humans for their food may not be fed on Shabbat, and one may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs.
One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves.
The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect since birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.)
One may feed silkworms on Shabbat.
Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 87:18
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, 8 Shvat 5771
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Halocho #724 - May one feed the birds on Shabbat Shira?
Friday, June 13, 2008
Halocho #101 - Candles or Oil for Shabbat?
This Shabbat morning we will read the weekly portion of Beha'aloscha which begins with the Mitzva of the Cohen lighting the Menora in the Bet Hamikdash every afternoon with pure olive oil. The popular custom is to use light Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon. However, a Hidur Mitzva (a "deluxe" way of performing the Mitzva) is to use olive oil. Whatever one decides to use, it has to create a flame that burns steadily without flickering or spluttering and does not generate an unpleasant odor. The Mishna lists wicks and oils that are disqualified, e.g. wicks from silk or seaweed as well as cottonseed oil. We already learned in Halocho #44 that one may not use a 7 branched candelabra. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 75:3, Mishna Shabbat, Ch. 2 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny

