What is the status of an animal slaughtered privately by a Jew who does not know the five disqualifying factors of shechitah?
The Rambam rules it is forbidden to him and to others, and it is close to nevelah — even if the slaughter appears externally proper.
Question 2
What qualifies a person as a 'mumche' (expert slaughterer) who may slaughter privately?
A mumche is one who both knows the laws of ritual slaughter and has practiced in the presence of a sage many times until becoming familiar and skilled.
Question 3
You lost a chicken, and you find it slaughtered in the marketplace. What is the ruling?
An animal found slaughtered in the marketplace is forbidden — perhaps it became a nevelah and was therefore discarded there.
Question 4
A gentile who does not worship idols slaughters an animal with a finely honed knife in the presence of a Jew. What is the status?
Even a non-idolatrous gentile's slaughter is a nevelah by rabbinic decree, as a great safeguard.
Question 5
What was the law regarding slaughter of non-sacrificial animals while Israel was in the desert?
In the desert, Israel was not commanded to perform shechitah for non-sacrificial animals. Upon entering the Land, beheading was prohibited and shechitah became obligatory.