Emily Carter
In September 1945, a chicken named Mike became known as the longest surviving headless chicken, having lived for 18 months without a head. Mike's story began on a farm in Fruita, Colorado, where he was spared the fate of becoming dinner when Lloyd Olsen inadvertently chopped off his head but left part of his brain intact. This allowed Mike to continue living and even growing as a normal chicken would. Mike became a sensation, touring the United States with the Olsen family and appearing in magazines such as Time and Life. He was exhibited at fairs, carnivals, and other public events, with people paying to see the headless wonder chicken. Unfortunately, Mike met his demise in March 1947 when he choked on mucus while staying in a motel during his tour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the chicken | Mike |
| Nicknames | Miracle Mike, Mike the Headless Chicken |
| Species | Male Wyandotte chicken |
| Age when beheaded | 5.5 months |
| Date of beheading | 10 September 1945 |
| Location | Fruita, Colorado |
| Owner | Farmer Lloyd Olsen |
| Cause of beheading | Food for supper |
| Survival duration | 18 months |
| Reason for survival | Most of the brain stem remained intact, along with the cerebellum |
| Post-beheading diet | Liquid food dropped into the oesophagus |
| Post-beheading abilities | Standing, walking, perching |
| Death | 17 March 1947, due to choking on a kernel of corn |
| Legacy | Annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" in Fruita, Colorado; Inspired a song by the band Radioactive Chicken Heads |
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What You'll Learn
- Miracle Mike, a Wyandotte chicken, lived for 18 months after being beheaded
- Most of Mike's brain stem remained intact, preventing him from bleeding to death
- Mike's fame spread across the US, featuring in Time and Life magazines
- He toured sideshows and was photographed for dozens of magazines and papers
- Fruita, Colorado, holds an annual Mike the Headless Chicken Day in May
Miracle Mike, a Wyandotte chicken, lived for 18 months after being beheaded
Mike's story began on a farm in Fruita, Colorado, belonging to farmer Lloyd Olsen and his wife, Clara. Olsen had been sent out to the yard by his wife to bring back a chicken for supper with his mother-in-law. He chose a five-and-a-half-month-old male Wyandotte chicken, later named Mike. When Olsen chopped off Mike's head with an axe, he inadvertently left part of the chicken's brainstem intact, along with one ear and the jugular vein.
The brain stem controls essential functions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, and other basic motor functions. With most of his brainstem and cerebellum, which controls balance and posture, still functioning, Mike was able to survive and even move around. This unusual survival earned Mike the nickname Miracle Mike.
As news of Mike spread, he became a celebrity. He was featured in newspapers and magazines, including Time and Life, and toured the country as a wonder of biology. People paid 25 cents (roughly $3 today) to see him, and he was valued at $10,000 ($131,100 in 2022). An annual ""Mike the Headless Chicken Day"" is still held in his hometown of Fruita, Colorado, in May, featuring events such as the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race."
Sadly, Mike's life came to an end on March 17, 1947, in a motel in Phoenix, Arizona. During the night, Mike began choking on his mucus, and despite attempts to save him, he suffocated. Mike's incredible survival story remains a fascinating example of a chicken's biology and the resilience of life.
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Most of Mike's brain stem remained intact, preventing him from bleeding to death
In 1945, a chicken named Mike became known as "Miracle Mike the Headless Chicken" after surviving for 18 months without a head. Mike's story began when farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, attempted to behead him with an axe. Olsen's blow removed Mike's beak, face, eyes, and one ear, but miraculously, most of the brain stem remained intact.
The brain stem in chickens controls essential functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion. With a significant portion of his brain stem still functional, Mike was able to survive and even thrive. He became a national sensation, touring the United States and appearing in sideshows and magazines such as Time and Life.
While the axe removed much of Mike's head, it missed the jugular vein, preventing him from bleeding to death. This allowed Mike to retain enough blood to continue functioning. Additionally, the angle of a chicken's brain within the skull, tilted upwards at around 45 degrees, meant that even with severe trauma to the head, key areas like the cerebellum and brain stem could remain unscathed.
Mike's survival can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the angle of his brain within the skull, the axe missing vital veins, and the preservation of his brain stem. This allowed him to continue living, breathing, and functioning, capturing the fascination of people across the country. Mike's story stands as a testament to the resilience of life and the unpredictability of nature.
Today, Mike's legacy lives on in Fruita, Colorado, where an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" is held to commemorate his extraordinary survival. His story has inspired music, art, and even scientific inquiries into the mysteries of life and death. Mike's tale serves as a reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, life can find a way to persist.
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Mike's fame spread across the US, featuring in Time and Life magazines
Miracle Mike, the headless chicken, became a sensation across the US, featuring in Time and Life magazines. Mike's fame spread after he lived for 18 months without a head following a failed beheading attempt in 1945. The axe removed the bulk of the head, but missed the jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of the brain stem intact.
Mike's owner, Lloyd Olsen, and his wife, Clara, initially kept him in an old apple box on their screened porch. When Lloyd saw that Mike was still alive the next morning, word spread around his hometown of Fruita, Colorado. A sideshow promoter, Hope Wade, travelled from Salt Lake City, Utah, and proposed that the Olsens take Mike on a tour of the sideshow circuit.
The Olsens took Mike to Salt Lake City and the University of Utah, where he underwent a series of tests. They then visited California and Arizona, with Hope Wade taking Mike on a tour of the southeastern United States. Mike was displayed to the public for a fee of 25 cents (roughly $3 in modern money), and his travels were carefully documented by Clara in a scrapbook.
Mike's fame continued to grow, and he achieved national recognition. He was photographed for dozens of magazines and papers, including Time and Life magazines, which featured his extraordinary story. According to Wikipedia, Mike was valued at $10,000, equivalent to $131,100 in 2022. Mike's fame has endured, with an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" held in Fruita, Colorado, since 1999. The event includes activities such as the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race", "Chicken Bingo", and a "Chicken Cluck-Off". Mike's story has also inspired a song by the poultry-themed comedy punk band Radioactive Chicken Heads.
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He toured sideshows and was photographed for dozens of magazines and papers
In 1945, a chicken named Mike became famous for surviving for 18 months after his head was cut off. This was due to the axe missing his jugular vein and leaving one ear and most of his brain stem—which controls essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion—intact.
After the beheading, Mike achieved national fame and began touring sideshows in the company of other anomalies, such as a two-headed baby. He travelled to California and Arizona, and was displayed to the public for a fee of 25 cents (roughly $3 today). Magazines and newspapers marvelled over the story of "Miracle Mike", and he was photographed for dozens of publications, including Time and Life magazines. Mike's travels were carefully documented in a scrapbook by Clara Olsen, which is preserved in the Waters's gun safe today.
Mike's fame continued to grow, and he became a true attraction. According to Wikipedia, the unique bird was valued at $10,000 (equivalent to $131,100 in 2022). Mike's story even inspired a poultry-themed comedy punk band, the Radioactive Chicken Heads, who wrote a song called "Headless Mike" in 2008.
In his hometown of Fruita, Colorado, an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" has been held in May since 1999. Events include the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race", the "Chicken Cluck-Off", and "Chicken Bingo".
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Fruita, Colorado, holds an annual Mike the Headless Chicken Day in May
In 1945, a US chicken named Mike lived for 18 months after his head was cut off with an axe. This earned him the nickname "Miracle Mike the Headless Chicken" and a place in the Guinness World Records. Mike survived because the axe missed his jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of his brain stem—which controls essential functions like breathing and heart rate—intact. A blood clot also prevented him from bleeding to death.
After his beheading, Mike became a national sensation and toured the United States with his owner, Lloyd Olsen, who discovered Mike on his farm in Fruita, Colorado. Mike was displayed to the public for a fee and became the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articles. He was even valued at $10,000 (equivalent to $131,100 in 2022).
To honour Mike's legacy, his hometown of Fruita, Colorado, holds an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" every May since 1999. The celebration includes events such as the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race", egg toss, "Pin the Head on the Chicken", the "Chicken Cluck-Off", and "Chicken Bingo". Mike's story has also inspired a poultry-themed comedy punk band called the Radioactive Chicken Heads, who released a song titled "Headless Mike" in 2008.
Mike's fame and longevity as a headless chicken are indeed remarkable, showcasing the resilience of these birds and providing a unique chapter in the history of Fruita, Colorado. His story continues to be commemorated and celebrated through the annual festivities in his honour.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken, named Mike, lived for 18 months after his head was cut off.
Mike was a male Wyandotte chicken that lived from 20 April 1945 to 17 March 1947. He became famous as a sideshow attraction and was featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide.
Mike survived because most of his brain stem remained intact, and a blood clot prevented him from bleeding to death.
Mike the Headless Chicken is a cultural institution in Fruita, Colorado, with an annual "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" held since 1999. Various events are held, including the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race", egg toss, and "Chicken Bingo".
