Mike the Headless Chicken

Mike the Headless Chicken was a Wyandotte rooster that lived for 1 1/2 years with his head cut off.

On September 10, 1945, farmer Lloyd Olson of Fruita, Colorado failed to completely chop off the bird's head, leaving most of the brain stem intact. After the bird did not die, Mr. Olson continued to care for the rooster, feeding him a mixture of milk and water via an eyedropper. He was also fed small grains of corn, which led to his untimely death by choking on his own mucus.

Mike the Headless Chicken is now an institution in Fruita, and festivals in his honor occur regularly.