In 1945, a young rooster in Fruita, Colorado became one of the most bizarre medical anomalies in history. Farmer Lloyd Olsen went to slaughter Mike for dinner, but his axe missed the jugular vein and left most of the brainstem intact. The chicken didn't die.

Mike woke up the next morning, attempted to preen his non-existent head, and tried to crow—producing only a gurgling sound from his open neck. Olsen decided to keep him alive.

How Did He Survive?

The brainstem controls most of a chicken's essential functions. Mike retained:

Reflex actions like balance and movement
Basic survival instincts including sleeping and attempting to peck
One ear, still attached to a fragment of skull
Enough of the jugular vein to prevent fatal blood loss

A blood clot formed immediately, preventing Mike from bleeding out. His remaining brain tissue was sufficient to keep his body functioning on autopilot.

Life Without a Head

Olsen fed Mike with an eyedropper, squirting liquid food and water directly down his esophagus. The chicken maintained his weight at around 8 pounds and even gained a few ounces. He'd "peck" for food and groom his neck stump like he still had a head to clean.

Scientists at the University of Utah examined Mike and confirmed he was genuinely headless—not a hoax or trick. The university estimated Mike had lost about 80% of his brain, but the critical 20% remained operational.

Fame and Fortune

Lloyd Olsen took Mike on tour across America. At the peak of his fame, Mike earned $4,500 per month (about $73,000 today) from sideshow appearances. He was featured in Time and Life magazines. People paid 25 cents to see "Mike the Headless Wonder Chicken" at carnivals and exhibitions.

The Olsen family was insured Mike for $10,000—a small fortune in the 1940s.

The End Comes in Phoenix

In March 1947, Mike began choking on mucus in a Phoenix motel room. The Olsens had accidentally left their feeding and cleaning syringes at the previous day's show. Unable to clear his esophagus, Mike asphyxiated. He'd survived 18 months without a head—only to die from a clogged throat.

Fruita, Colorado still celebrates Mike every May with a festival featuring games, music, and the "Run Like a Headless Chicken" 5K race. The town erected a monument to their most famous resident—a chicken who refused to accept that being beheaded was supposed to be fatal.

Mike proved that chickens really can survive without most of their brains. They just can't survive without an eyedropper.

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