Preparing a Mixture for Chickens on Shabbat
Question
I have chickens in my yard, and I need to feed them a mixture that I blend with water. I need to blend the mixture with water on Shabbat itself, or else it becomes spoiled. The product that results from this is viscous and a slightly liquid. How can this be done on Shabbos?
Answer
Greetings,
It is forbidden to blend this mixture with water on Shabbat. However, in cases of necessity, it is possible to mix it with a modification (“shinui”). One can insert a stick into the mixture, move it left-right and forward-backward, remove it, and then do this again until the desired result is achieved. Alternatively, one can blend by transferring the mixture from one vessel to another.
Additionally, one should not prepare an excessive amount beyond what is needed for this Shabbat.
There are those who are stringent and prohibit Jews from adding any water to the mixture, and if there is a need, one should ask a non-Jew to do it. But the letter of the law is that it is permitted to be lenient; however, blessings will come upon those who are stringent.
Source
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 324:3)