Headless Rooster Mike

"A headless rooster lives on after being hit with an ax." This is exactly what the headline in LIFE magazine of October 22, 1945 was about an article about... a headless rooster, of course.

Look at the photo and decide for yourself whether to believe it or not.

Headless Rooster Mike, October 1945. On the day of his “execution,” Mike slept with his head under his wing.

The fact is that Olsen did not touch the rooster's brain, and even one ear remained unharmed. This happy accident surprised the farmer so much that he left the rooster alive and even took care of it, because the bird could no longer eat on its own.

Mike on a farm in Colorado. Miracle Mike, as some newspapers dubbed him, lived without his head for 18 months.

A suitcase with feeding supplies, including a pipette with which food is placed into the esophagus.

Olsen made good money on Mike - he showed the legendary bird for 25 cents. And the rooster died by accident - the farmer left for another city with the rooster, and forgot the food and pipettes with which he fed it at home.

Feeding Mike.

Hope Wade is a promoter who took Mike around the country and made money from it. Colorado, 1945.

Mike is sitting in the grass.

Promoter Hope Wade holds Mike's head. Some said that the real head was eaten by the Olsons' cat, and this one belonged to another rooster.