Hullin 140: Sometimes, You Don't Send Away the Mother Bird

More on the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird from sitting on her eggs or fledgling birds. If someone approached the nest with a knife, and began slaughtering the birds, or nearly so, does he send away the mother bird? What does it mean to take the birds for yourself? What state does the bird need to be in? The Gemara proffers several cases for several "teiku" lack-of-conclusions. Also, the positioning of the mother bird at the time of sending her away -- the obligation to do so only kicks in if she's actually sitting on the eggs or fledgling and touching the nest itself.