Mike the Headless Chicken

MikeTheHeadlessChicken

Mike the Headless Chicken (April 1945 – March 1947), also known as Miracle Mike, was a Wyandotte chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off. Mike's story is one of the most unusual and remarkable in animal history, illustrating the incredible survival instincts of animals and the complexities of their anatomy.

Background

Mike's story began in Fruita, Colorado, when a farmer named Lloyd Olsen was sent out by his wife to bring back a chicken for dinner. On September 10, 1945, Olsen chose a five-and-a-half-month-old cockerel named Mike. The axe removed the bulk of the head, but missed the jugular vein, one ear, and most of the brain stem, leaving Mike alive.

Survival

To everyone's astonishment, Mike did not die. Instead, he started to attempt to peck for food and preen his feathers, despite having no head. Olsen, seeing the opportunity for fame and profit, decided to take care of Mike, feeding him a mixture of milk and water with an eyedropper, and small grains of corn.

Mike's unusual condition was the result of Olsen's axe missing the carotid artery and leaving enough of the brain stem intact for basic physiological functions. This allowed Mike to remain mostly healthy and able to balance on a perch and walk clumsily.

Publicity

Word of Mike's condition spread, and he soon became a sideshow attraction, billed as "Mike the Headless Chicken" or "Miracle Mike". He was toured around the United States, appearing in sideshows alongside the Barnum & Bailey Circus and in magazines. Mike's fame brought him and the Olsen family an income of about $4,500 per month, a substantial amount in the mid-1940s.

Death

Mike died in March 1947 in a motel in Phoenix, Arizona, during one of the sideshow tours. The Olsen's had failed to clear his open esophagus with a syringe, leading to Mike choking in the middle of the night.

Legacy

Mike the Headless Chicken is remembered as a symbol of the will to live and the incredible survival capabilities of animals. His story has inspired the annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" in Fruita, Colorado, celebrating his life and survival against the odds. The event includes activities such as the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race", egg tosses, and chicken bingo.

Mike's story has been the subject of numerous articles, books, and documentaries, exploring the boundaries of animal physiology and the ethics of human interaction with animals for entertainment and profit.