In 1945, in the United States in the state of Colorado, a chicken named Mike managed to live for a full two years without a head on a farm run by Lloyd and Clara Olsen, becoming a famous story worldwide. Mike’s head was cut off by Clara Olsen during the slaughtering of chickens, which were a source of income for the farm. Unexpectedly, Mike started running around and continued his normal life shortly after being beheaded.
Initially, the Olsens were not surprised by this event, but Mike’s continued vitality and movement hours later caught their attention. Lloyd Olsen began feeding Mike specially, and this unusual situation quickly drew the attention of the local press and later the international media. Mike gained fame as the ‘headless miracle’, becoming the subject of many interviews and news stories.
The Fascinating Life Struggle of a Headless Chicken
Scientists conducted various studies on Mike’s condition. Examinations revealed that a part of Mike’s brain was still functional and robust enough to control vital functions. This allowed him to continue performing basic life functions such as eating and breathing. Mike was fed by Lloyd using a special method with a syringe, which enabled him to survive.
However, Mike’s extraordinary life came to an end in 1947 when his esophagus became blocked. Mike, who became a legend among farm animals despite being headless, suffocated to death and was recorded in history as ‘the longest living headless chicken’. Mike’s story provided valuable insights into medicine and animal biology, serving as an important example of survival and adaptation.
Source: BBC