On September
10, 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, United States, was eating
supper with his mother-in-law and was sent out to the yard by his wife to bring
back a chicken. Olsen chose a five-and-a-half-month-old cockerel named Mike.
The axe missed the jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of the brain stem
intact.
Despite
Olsen's failed attempt to behead Mike, Mike was still able to balance on a
perch and walk clumsily; he even attempted to preen and crow, although he could
do neither. When the bird did not die, Mr. Olsen, who was surprised, decided to
continue to care permanently for Mike, feeding him a mixture of milk and water
via an eyedropper; he was also fed small grains of corn.