Mike the Headless Chicken, aka “Miracle Mike” was an American chicken that lived for 18 months after a failed slaughter attempt in 1945.
When Mike did not die after being struck with an axe, farmer Lloyd Olsen instead decided to care for the bird. He fed it a mixture of milk and water via an eyedropper, and gave it small grains of corn.
After nearly 2 years of nationwide fame, Mike choked to death on a corn kernel in 1947.
This miraculous survival was due to most of his brain stem remaining intact and a blood clot preventing him from bleeding to death.
Born on April 20, 1945, in Fruita, Colorado, Mike was supposed to be dinner for farmer Lloyd Olsen’s family.
However, when Olsen tried to behead Mike, he missed the jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of the brain stem intact.
Even after losing his head, Mike could still balance on a perch and walk clumsily.
Olsen decided to care for Mike, feeding him a mixture of milk and water via an eyedropper, and giving him small grains of corn and worms.
Mike’s unique condition brought him national fame, leading him to tour sideshows with other anomalies. He was even featured in Time and Life magazines.
Mike passed away in March 1947 when he choked on a kernel of corn.
His legacy lives on in Fruita, where an annual “Mike the Headless Chicken Day” is held in his honour.
