Why did the Sages prohibit raising small animals in settled areas of Israel?
Halachah 2: Small animals like sheep and goats naturally graze widely and tend to enter others' fields, causing ongoing damage to agricultural property.
Question 2
According to Joshua's ten conditions, where may one pasture a small animal?
Halachah 3: One of Joshua's ten conditions was that pasturing small animals in thick forests is permitted, since thick forests have little agricultural value.
Question 3
Does the prohibition on raising small animals apply outside of Israel?
Halachah 4-5: The prohibition applies in all places, including the diaspora, wherever conditions are similar to settled Israel.
Question 4
For how long may one keep a small animal before a pilgrimage festival?
Halachah 7: One may maintain possession of a small animal for 30 days before a pilgrimage festival in order to use it for the holiday meal.
Question 5
A shepherd who repents wishes to stop raising prohibited animals. Must he sell them all immediately?
Halachah 9: The Sages did not require immediate full divestment — a repentant shepherd may sell his animals gradually, a bit at a time.