While viewing TV one evening I watched a program on Denmark which triggered a now funny experience I had at Abu Dhabi airport.
My wife and I had been to Denmark, attending the world’s largest poultry show with over 100,000 birds on display in six very large buildings.
At the time I was Chairman of the Board of Vic Poultry. We were presenting the trophy for the best Australorp fowl of the show. The Australorps are the only Australian birds/poultry in Europe.
As one does, we bought chook-related products to bring home.
On the way home we had a layover to change planes in Abu Dhabi. As we went through customs and security I was stopped, pulled aside, and asked about the metal object in my check-in luggage.
I said, “I have no idea”.
The two security guards looked at me with suspicion and took me to a separate room, asking again “What is that metal object in your bag?”
They brought in one of my suitcases and opened it. In the bottom was a small paper bag with items I had bought at the poultry show. In amongst the items was a toe punch used to punch tiny holes in the webbing of the bird’s feet, an identifier to keep track of our breeding programs.
My wife and I had been to Denmark, attending the world’s largest poultry show with over 100,000 birds on display in six very large buildings.
At the time I was Chairman of the Board of Vic Poultry. We were presenting the trophy for the best Australorp fowl of the show. The Australorps are the only Australian birds/poultry in Europe.
As one does, we bought chook-related products to bring home.
On the way home we had a layover to change planes in Abu Dhabi. As we went through customs and security I was stopped, pulled aside, and asked about the metal object in my check-in luggage.
I said, “I have no idea”.
The two security guards looked at me with suspicion and took me to a separate room, asking again “What is that metal object in your bag?”
They brought in one of my suitcases and opened it. In the bottom was a small paper bag with items I had bought at the poultry show. In amongst the items was a toe punch used to punch tiny holes in the webbing of the bird’s feet, an identifier to keep track of our breeding programs.
Birds generally have three toes, and, using a combination of different holes on the webbing between different toes we can keep track of our various breeding pairs. It’s a little bit like branding a horse or a dog or cow.
I tried very hard to explain the tool to the guards.
The information did not sink in, and the guards hand cuffed me.
I was at a loss as to what to say next. One guard left the room and sometime later came back with someone I can only guess was his supervisor, who examined the object and told the guard to take off my hand cuffs. I rubbed my wrists, then asked for a pen and paper which was given to me.
I drew a picture of two chooks’ feet and tried very hard to explain again what I meant. I punched holes in the paper.
The supervisor’s face lit up and with a great grin he said, “Now I know what you mean!”. He said he had never seen anything like it and had learnt a great deal that day about chickens.
They did not apologize. I packed my bag and was escorted to the main hall. The look on my wife’s face said it all!
We travelled home in a serious mood. Then the funny side struck us. All we could do was laugh at the situation as we realised that not many people know what a toe punch is.
I tried very hard to explain the tool to the guards.
The information did not sink in, and the guards hand cuffed me.
I was at a loss as to what to say next. One guard left the room and sometime later came back with someone I can only guess was his supervisor, who examined the object and told the guard to take off my hand cuffs. I rubbed my wrists, then asked for a pen and paper which was given to me.
I drew a picture of two chooks’ feet and tried very hard to explain again what I meant. I punched holes in the paper.
The supervisor’s face lit up and with a great grin he said, “Now I know what you mean!”. He said he had never seen anything like it and had learnt a great deal that day about chickens.
They did not apologize. I packed my bag and was escorted to the main hall. The look on my wife’s face said it all!
We travelled home in a serious mood. Then the funny side struck us. All we could do was laugh at the situation as we realised that not many people know what a toe punch is.
Lou Sigmund
November 2023
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