• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Mike the headless chicken (no joke!)

I'm pretty sure it's real.

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=54463

On September 10, 1945, a Wyandotte chicken belonging to Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, USA, had its head chopped off, but went on to survive for 18 months. Mike's owner, Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorada, USA, fed and watered the headless chicken directly into his gullet using an eyedropper. Mike eventually choked to death one night in an Arizona motel.
Click to expand...

http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,776319,00.html

All in the Neck. In Fruita, Colo., an illustrative marvel took place. A farmer chopped off the head of a rooster named Mike. He missed Mike's jugular vein and a lump of tissue at the top of his neck that controlled Mike's motor impulses.

Last week, a month later, Mike was still running around, with no head. He was fed, he flapped his wings, he even tried to crow.
Click to expand...
 
Okay it's fairly well backed up.

But how is this remotely possible?

And look at that photo - how is there any vestige of brain left there? That's not a high cut, that's pretty much at the body.

And how could it breathe and feed?
Sticking an eyedropper down it's headless throat to feed it?
Why would a farmer keep a headless chicken alive?

I'm sorry but I'm having real difficulty in believing this one.


N.B. I can't believe I just typed "Why would a farmer keep a headless chicken alive?"
 
I can't believe they kept it alive for 18 months. I would have pulled the whole feeding it with a eye-dropper after the first week. They should have let it die with dignity. And to top it off, they parade the poor thing around at freak shows. Almost like parading a braindead woman on national television.

Shocking, really!


Edited because I can't spell.
 
thatguywhojuggles said:
I would have pulled the whole feeding it with a eye-dropper after the first week. They should have let it die with dignity.
Click to expand...
Are you trawling for a response from Rouser here? (If you don't know what I'm talking about, see any of his multiple threads on the Terri Schiavo case.)

You mean you'd have let the poor animal suffer horribly by unnaturally starving and dehydrating it to death? Instead of naturally continuing with the wholly natural and humane provision of food and water to this animal which was capable of responding to stimuli and undoubtedly conscious? You black-robed monster, you!

Yes, I see the parallel, the chicken was no doubt exactly as sentient as Terri - so really, does it matter either way except as bad taste?

Rolfe.
 
Rolfe said:
Are you trawling for a response from Rouser here? (If you don't know what I'm talking about, see any of his multiple threads on the Terri Schiavo case.)
Click to expand...

I wondered after I posted if Rouser might make an appearance.
 
I looked into this ages ago.(being an uber sceptic)

It is absolutely the real deal.

Apparently enough of the brain stem was left to continue the normal body function of a chicken. The thing finally choked on a piece of corn.

After working with chickens on a farm for many years my opinion of their intelligence is VERY low.. so this reminded me of my oft used rebuke to vegetarians …… Is it really any worse to kill a chicken than a tomato?
 
AFAIK - from my research - it's real. As to my motive for posting about it... it's good to shake up our perceptions of what is possible and impossible occasionally, lest we become reactionaries. :)
 
Aussie Thinker said:
After working with chickens on a farm for many years my opinion of their intelligence is VERY low.. [/B]
Click to expand...

Yes, that's why I eat a lot of chicken but scarcely any red meat.
 
jmercer said:
Under the heading of "Truth is not only stranger than fiction - it's stranger than we can imagine", I bring you...

(insert drum roll here)

Mike, the Headless Chicken!

Enjoy. :D
Click to expand...

I saw that one on a news program a few years back. Anybody who has beheaded a chicken knows that you chop a little further down the neck. What were they thinking?
 
Re: Re: Mike the headless chicken (no joke!)

Leroy said:
I saw that one on a news program a few years back. Anybody who has beheaded a chicken knows that you chop a little further down the neck. What were they thinking?
Click to expand...

Either "Dammit, my thumb's too close!!!!" or "Dammit, rooster, HOLD STILL!" ;)
 
Ashles
Why would a farmer keep a headless chicken alive?
Click to expand...

thatguywhojuggles
And to top it off, they parade the poor thing around at freak shows.
Click to expand...

Question answered.

Ashles
Okay it's fairly well backed up.

But how is this remotely possible?

And look at that photo - how is there any vestige of brain left there? That's not a high cut, that's pretty much at the body.

I'm sorry but I'm having real difficulty in believing this one.
Click to expand...
Actually that’s a rather high cut. And even when you do cut a bit lower, the body will continue running around and spraying blood.

- Oh the joys of growing up next to my grandmother’s farm –
Older cousin, bad sense of humor.
Also, lots of fun and excitement with the electric fence.

Ossai
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom