Headless chickens don't always just run around

[Xantar]

Sometimes they also sleep, preen for hens and eat. As far as I know, this really happened.

You see, on September 10th, 1945, a farmer of Fruita, Colorado went out to slaughter a chicken for dinner. This was somewhat of a special occasion. His mother in law was coming over, and back in the day, it was as important to suck up to your mother in law as it is today. Lloyd Olsen, the farmer, knew that his mother in law was very fond of the necks of chickens, so he placed his axe very precisely to save as much of the chicken's neck as possible.

A skillful axe blow was executed, and the chicken staggered for a while like most freshly killed birds. Then, it started walking around and pecking for food again as if it didn't know that its head was missing. When Lloyd Olsen found the chicken the next day sleeping with his "head" under his wing, he decided that a chicken with this much will to live deserved to be fed. He started feeding it through the whole in the neck with an eyedropper. And the story of Miracle Mike the Headless Chicken was born.

A week into Mike's new life Olsen packed him up and took him 250 miles to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The skeptical scientists were eager to answer all the questions regarding Mike's amazing ability to survive with no head. It was determined that axe blade had missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was in a jar, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem Mike was able to remain quite healthy.

Mike continued to live for another 18 months and grew from a mere 2 1/2 pounds to 8 pounds. His fame and fortune gained him recognition in Time and Life magazines, and curious people all over the country lined up to pay 25 cents to see him. Then one night, Mike choked on some food and passed away. But if you visit Fruita, Colorado, you can still talk to some people who were alive at the time and remember Mike the Headless Chicken.


Here's a picture of Mike with his head lying at his feet.


Here's a blurry picture of Mike getting fed with an eyedropper.

For more information about Mike, visit the Official Mike The Headless Chicken Website. You can even buy Mike the Headless Chicken T-shirts.

Don't you wish you could live without your head?

[TheGrimReaper]

How can that be possible?

[Joeiss]

Hahaha... A chicken with no head. That is quite commical. I find it hard to believe that a chicken could live without a head. I mean, what about the brain?

And to answer your question, if I could live without my head, I probably would. Why? Because it would be one hell of a Halloween costume.

[Ginkasa]

Originally posted by Joeiss
And to answer your question, if I could live without my head, I probably would. Why? Because it would be one hell of a Halloween costume.

But what about the other 364 days that aren't Halloween, hmm?

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by Link1130




But what about the other 364 days that aren't Halloween, hmm?

Well you know, I would probably hook up with some people from Ripley's Believe it or Not and Guiness World Records. I would go on some tours, make a little cash, and before I know it, HALLOWEEN once again.

Well, at least I hope it would go like that.

[Perfect Stu]

I would live without my head because I'm ugly...

heh heh...

heh...

uh...

oh

[GameKinG]

Yes...Im sure with out your head you would be People Magazines sexiest man of the year.

[Cyrax9]

Well, we have the headless chicken, now all we need to do is prove that a "headless horseman" exists, and two legends will be real.

As for living without my head, it's a bad Idea, I'd lose it in two minutes, and how would I use the bathroom if I didn't have my head. (Military Joke for those who know about Navy Ships".

[C.H]

....

well, thats a bit strange, but funny at the sametime. I wish i could have seen that chicken running around with no head.