Q. Shalom Rav, I have two questions.
I own a small parakeet, we usually feed him a mixture of seeds. Can I feed him in Pesach clean sunflower seeds?
A. Sunflower seeds is considered by many Poskim to be kitniyot (legumes, grains and seeds, not eaten in Pesach by followers of Ashkenazi traditions) and it is included in the list of most Kashrut organizations. (Beis Shearim O.H. 251, OU, Star K, COR and others Kitniyos List.)
However, kitniyos are permitted in benefit (Mogen Avrohom 453: 3, Eliahu Rabba ibid. 5, Mishna Berura ibid. 12) and therefore permitted for animal use. Care should be taken that they are indeed clean from any other seeds that could be chametz.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a.
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