2,511. Delay After Cutting the Trachea

Hilchos Shechita 3:6

Let’s say that someone cut half or less of the trachea, then he paused for a lengthy period of time. In such a case, he can come back and finish slaughtering, what he already did being inconsequential. However, if he cut most of the trachea or pierced the esophagus even a little, after which he paused the disqualifying length of time, then the slaughter is invalid; this is so regardless of whether he went back and resumed cutting where he left off or if he slaughtered the animal in a completely different spot. This is because when the majority of the trachea is cut or the esophagus of an animal or a bird is pierced even a little, the animal is like a neveila and shechita is ineffective. This will be addressed IY”H in halacha 3:19.

Hilchos Shechita 3:7

We have seen that the principle of delay doesn’t apply to a bird’s trachea at all. If one cut the major part of the trachea and paused, he’s already finished slaughtering the bird; if he goes back and finishes it, it’s like cutting meat. If he cut less than half the trachea and paused, he can go back and resume whenever he likes because it’s not like a neveila unless most of the trachea is cut.