Interesting Facts





INTERESTING FACT

Mike: The Headless Chicken

Miracles happen. For a five and half months old rooster, there would not really be many ways to gather dust and fame in our world. But on the 10th of September 1945, destiny had a certain way with Mike. Using a sharp axe, farmer Lloyd Olsen decided on preparing Mike for the night's supper. However, bringing the tool down did chop off the rooster, but did not prepare it for Mr. Olsen's kitchen, as the rooster, did not seem to mind the incident for more than a while, and went around pecking for food headless. Most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem. Purely by freakish accident of the nature Mike's half of the brain stem and one ear remained intact. Mike received food and water through a eyedropper. Hence, was born the ordeal and legend of a headless rooster. Mike not only lived on for another eighteen months, but also went on to a healthy 8lbs from an initial 2lbs. The rooster won a place in the Guinness book of records, priced itself at $10,000, insured at another $10,000 and brought himself a manager as he tagged off to a tour to New York, LA and Atlantic City. Unfortunately it was at the end of one of these tours, when Mike passed away, leaving behind a legacy of remembrance and respect for Mike's will for survival.

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Posted by: Interesting Facts Team


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Oldest comments first!
Nick
i feel so sad for that chicken.
Nick at at 12:19PM, Jan 8th 2010.
Faryal
poor chicken =(
Faryal at at 10:40AM, Mar 17th 2010.
Jakob
He went around pecking for food? hahahaha

That is pretty sad though, 18 months without a head? I'm not envious, lol
Jakob at at 02:46PM, Mar 24th 2010.
Annette
Hey I got a chicken story too,my mom had a one legged chicken. The dog that ate it died from choking on one of its bones! Chickens got if rough. . .
Annette at at 04:20AM, Mar 26th 2010.
Anika
i think that it's awesome how mike survived 18 months without a head!!!!!!!!! lol
Anika at at 10:12AM, May 5th 2010.
Bridget
I think that is simply amazing how any creature can live 18 months with out a head. Poor Mike the chicken though he must've been bumping into all sorts of things not being able to see where he was going and all.
Bridget at at 08:05AM, May 27th 2010.
Chichi
Kind of incredible if you think about it..
18 months with no head.. NO human could do that.
Yes, poor chicken.. but wow..
Chichi at at 04:45PM, Jul 29th 2010.
Ivan
Poor chicken! How was that possible? It must have been a sad 18mos for him not to be able to crow!!!!! T_T
Ivan at at 09:17AM, Aug 5th 2010.
Dan

How could it feel sad Ivan?!......it didn't have a head!

Dan at at 08:03AM, Sep 2nd 2010.
bob
lol da chicken got owned, boyah
bob at at 06:31AM, Sep 6th 2010.
Chichi
Bob, how did the chicken get owned?
It survived it's head getting cut off... Don't you think it would be the other way around and the guy got owned?
Hahaha..
Chichi at at 10:35AM, Sep 7th 2010.
JACK
well thats one way to keep your food fresh! Wonder what the head was doing for 18 months though, probably got really jealous of the body's celebrity status.
JACK at at 10:30AM, Nov 2nd 2010.
bhargavi
its amazing
bhargavi at at 04:58AM, Nov 13th 2010.
rashi jain
STRANGE! ! ! ! ! !
how that mike can live without his head?
this fact is really very intresting as well as too much shocking.

i am very impressed by this website & as a student every child should learn something intresting from this site.
rashi jain at at 04:28AM, May 1st 2011.
CHICHI
Wow Martin, you are very impressive with your st*rs and **** talking...
I think you still have some growing up to do, until then keep trying to act cool, it might work for you ONE day.
CHICHI at at 10:27AM, May 26th 2011.
brad
Colonel sanders didn't want him either.... says he a neck man himself!!!!!
brad at at 05:26PM, Jul 30th 2011.
sj
how did it eat if its head wasnt on?
sj at at 02:02PM, Nov 26th 2011.

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