A chicken surviving without its head seems like something out of folklore, yet it became a documented reality. This unusual phenomenon provides insight into the anatomy and resilience of certain animal nervous systems. The story of one particular chicken highlights the specific circumstances that allowed for such improbable survival.
The Story of Mike
On September 10, 1945, in Fruita, Colorado, farmer Lloyd Olsen was preparing chickens for market. He chose a five-and-a-half-month-old Wyandotte rooster named Mike. Olsen intended to behead the bird with an axe, but the cut did not fully remove its head. The chicken stood up, stumbled, and began walking around the yard.
Olsen placed Mike in a box overnight, expecting him to die. The next morning, Mike was still alive, leading Olsen to care for him. This unexpected survival quickly turned Mike into a local curiosity, and his story spread beyond the small Colorado farm.
The Biological Basis of Survival
The survival of a chicken without its head stems from specific anatomical features of avian biology. Unlike mammals, a significant portion of a chicken’s brain is located at the back of its skull, behind the eyes. This includes the brainstem and the cerebellum, which are crucial for many basic bodily functions.
When Mike was beheaded, the axe removed most of his head, including the beak, face, and eyes. However, it missed the jugular vein and left part of his brainstem intact. The brainstem controls involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion. A blood clot also formed, preventing Mike from bleeding to death.
The cerebellum, which plays a role in balance and coordination, remained connected to Mike’s body. This allowed him to maintain some motor control, enabling him to balance and walk, albeit clumsily. The presence of a functional brainstem and cerebellum meant that despite losing his forebrain, Mike’s body continued to operate on a fundamental level.
Life Without a Head
Mike’s continued existence required constant care from his owner, Lloyd Olsen. To sustain the headless bird, Olsen fed him a mixture of milk and water, sometimes with small grains of corn or worms, directly into his esophagus using an eyedropper. This method ensured Mike received nourishment.
A significant challenge was managing the mucus that would accumulate in Mike’s throat. Olsen regularly cleared this mucus with a syringe to prevent the chicken from choking. Mike gained weight during his headless period, growing from 2.5 pounds to 8 pounds. He could still attempt behaviors like preening and crowing, though his “crowing” was described as a gurgling sound.
Mike lived for 18 months after his decapitation, becoming a national sensation and touring the United States as “Miracle Mike.” His journey ended on March 17, 1947, in a Phoenix, Arizona, motel. Mike began choking on mucus during the night, and Olsen was unable to clear his throat. Mike ultimately suffocated.