Mike the headless chicken!!!
Mike the Headless Chicken was a Wyandotte rooster who lived for 18 months after being beheaded in 1945, surviving because most of his brain stem remained intact and a blood clot prevented fatal bleeding. He became a national sensation, touring as a sideshow attraction and earning his owner significant income. Mike's hometown of Fruita, Colorado, now holds an annual festival in his honor.
The Incident
The Beheading:
In September 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, attempted to butcher a chicken for dinner.
The Miracle:
Olsen's axe strike missed the jugular vein and most of the brain stem, leaving enough of the brain stem to control basic functions like breathing, heartbeat, and movement.
Survival:
Instead of dying, Mike stood up, wobbled, and continued to act like a normal chicken.
Life as a Sideshow Act
National Fame:
Word of the "headless wonder chicken" spread, and Mike became a national celebrity.
Sideshow Tours:
Olsen and his wife took Mike on tour, exhibiting him at fairs and sideshows across the country.
Care and Feeding:
Mike was fed a liquid mixture of grain and water with an eyedropper, and his throat was cleared with a syringe to prevent choking.
Media Attention:
He was featured in magazines like Time and Life.
His Demise
Choking: Mike died in March 1947 in Phoenix, Arizona, while on tour.
Cause of Death: He choked on a kernel of corn, and his owner had forgotten to bring the syringe needed to clear his throat.
Legacy
Annual Festival: The town of Fruita, Colorado, celebrates Mike's life with an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" festival in May.
Guinness World Record: Mike holds the record for the longest-surviving chicken without a head.
There @Bexsy I bet you haven’t done that one yet!
The Incident
The Beheading:
In September 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, attempted to butcher a chicken for dinner.
The Miracle:
Olsen's axe strike missed the jugular vein and most of the brain stem, leaving enough of the brain stem to control basic functions like breathing, heartbeat, and movement.
Survival:
Instead of dying, Mike stood up, wobbled, and continued to act like a normal chicken.
Life as a Sideshow Act
National Fame:
Word of the "headless wonder chicken" spread, and Mike became a national celebrity.
Sideshow Tours:
Olsen and his wife took Mike on tour, exhibiting him at fairs and sideshows across the country.
Care and Feeding:
Mike was fed a liquid mixture of grain and water with an eyedropper, and his throat was cleared with a syringe to prevent choking.
Media Attention:
He was featured in magazines like Time and Life.
His Demise
Choking: Mike died in March 1947 in Phoenix, Arizona, while on tour.
Cause of Death: He choked on a kernel of corn, and his owner had forgotten to bring the syringe needed to clear his throat.
Legacy
Annual Festival: The town of Fruita, Colorado, celebrates Mike's life with an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" festival in May.
Guinness World Record: Mike holds the record for the longest-surviving chicken without a head.
There @Bexsy I bet you haven’t done that one yet!
31-35, M
