It is not permitted to gorge (ein ovsin) a camel ["ovsin" — to make an avus (a manger) in its stomach] (on Shabbath), and it is not permitted to stuff it [to stuff the food into its throat — less than "ovsin"], but it is permitted to put food into its mouth [in a spot whence it can give it back]. And it is not permitted to fatten (ein mamrim) calves ["mamrim," as in (Isaiah 1:11): "vechelev meri'im" ("and the fat of fatted beasts"), sticking the food behind the throat, in a spot where the animal cannot give it back], but it is permitted to put food into their mouths. And it is permitted to stick food into the mouths of hens [in a spot whence they can give it back.] And it is permitted to place water in their hash, but it is not permitted to knead it [in the water]. And it is not permitted to place water before bees, [it not being incumbent upon him to feed them, for they go out and eat in the field, and water is available for them in swamps], nor before pigeons in the cote. But it is permitted to place it before geese and hens and before hard'sioth doves, [which are domesticated in houses, so called after King Hordos (Herod), who raised them in his palace.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
אין אובסין – we [don’t] force feed it and stick it down its throat; and the explanation of "אובסין" is making a manger of her stomach (i.e., fill it up to swelling – see Talmud Shabbat 155b).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Introduction
This mishnah continues to deal with feeding animals on Shabbat.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
ולא דורסים – when he stuff’s food into the camel’s throat, however, this is not like "אובסין"/not making her a manger of her stomach (fill up to swelling).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
One may not stuff a camel [with food] nor cram [food into its mouth], but one may put food into its mouth. It was customary to stuff a camel with enough food to last several days before setting out on a journey. In this way it wouldn’t be necessary to feed the camel while on the road. [Note: this unfortunately does not work for humans.] Since this is a lot of work, and is also preparing on Shabbat for after Shabbat, it is not permitted. However, if the camel does not want to eat at all, it is permitted to put food into its mouth.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
אבל מלעיטים – that you insert the food to a place where it can come back (and be rechewed).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
And one may not force feed calves, but one may put food into their mouth. The same rule holds true for calves one may put food into their mouths but not force feed them.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
ואין ממראין – to fatten, from the language of (Isaiah 1:11): “and suet of fatlings” – and the explanation is that they insert in it (i.e., the calf) the food inside from the esophagus, in a place where it cannot come back up.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
And one may put food into one’s hands for chickens and one may put water into bran, but not mix it [into a mass]. Mixing water into a mass of bran is considered too much work to do on Shabbat, and it is not strictly necessary. The chicken will be fine without the bran/water combination having been mixed. Therefore, mixing is prohibited. However, merely feeding the chickens by hand or putting water into a bowl of bran for them to eat is permitted.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
ומהלקטין לתרנגולים – that he inserts the food into its mouth into a place where it can come back up.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
And one may not put water in front of bees or in front of doves in a dove-cote, but one may put [water] in front of geese, chickens and Rhodesian doves. Bees and doves fly long distances and should be able to find their own water. Therefore, since is no need to put water out for them on Shabbat it is prohibited to do so. However, geese, chickens and certain types of doves do not fly far from their owner’s homes and hence one may put water out for them on Shabbat. The general principle which we again see illustrated is that something that is necessary to feed animals on Shabbat is permitted, while unnecessary actions are prohibited.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
אבל לא גובלין – they do not knead it in water.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
אין נותנין מים לפני דבורים – for their food is not upon him (i.e., the owner) since they go out and eat in the fields and water is found for them in lakes.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
דורסיאות – doves that grow up in houses and they are called דורסיאות – on account of King Herod who raised them in his palace.
