[Avodah] Four-Legged Chicken Sparks Debate over Kosher Status

[Akiva Blum]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: avodah-bounces at lists.aishdas.org [mailto:avodah-
> bounces at lists.aishdas.org] On Behalf Of Zev Sero
> Sent: Wednesday 29 June 2011 7:54 PM
> To: A High-Level Torah Discussion Group
> Subject: Re: [Avodah] Four-Legged Chicken Sparks Debate over Kosher Status
> 
> 
> 
> > kosher label, which can only be determined once it is slaughtered,
> > [...]
> > If the legs are tied together, according to local rabbis, the chicken
> > is not kosher. This they said could only be determined by slaughtering
> > the animal.
> 
> What does this mean?  Tied together with what?  String?
> 
> Perhaps someone can explain what is the shayla here.  I thought it was
> black letter law that "kol yeter kenatul dami", and therefore this
> chicken should be clearly treif.  What is the sevara to rule it kosher,
> and what has it got to do with the legs being "tied together", whatever
> that is supposed to mean?
> 

The Ramban holds Kenatul domi means that the entire extra limb is removed
including its connecting base. Therefore, if the result after removing the
extra legs leaves a treifa, the bird is already now a treifa. Rashi holds
that both the extra limb plus the original limb are removed. However, even
Rashi agrees that the limb needs to be complete, not just an extra piece of
meat. See Taz and Shach Y.D. 41:10. The only way to know what these extra
legs are is by opening up the bird.
Having seen the video, it certainly looks as if these are real legs. They
move, and the toes open and close, though when walking, the chicken stands
only on its front legs.

Akiva