Cluck?

August 7, 2008 11:06 AM

Mike the headless chicken was a rooster who lived for 18 months after he was beheaded. In that time he grew from 2 1/2 to almost 8 pounds. When the veracity of this was questioned, the owner brought it to the University of Utah to have it's authenticity confirmed.
posted by quin (30 comments total)

I'm still down with euthanasia.
posted by danep at 11:11 AM on August 7, 2008

(Very) previously
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:20 AM on August 7, 2008

Very briefly discussed previously. Also recommended: Damned Interesting's article.

Don't try this at home, though.
posted by imperium at 11:20 AM on August 7, 2008

I love this story; saw a documentary piece on cable about him a few years ago, but can't find it on youtube. There seems to have been a biopic, though I'm not sure if it's the same one I saw: Chick Flick: The Miracle Mike Story.
posted by not_on_display at 11:33 AM on August 7, 2008

And in related news, Roland the headless Thompson gunner was Norway's bravest son.

I hadn't thought about this curiosity in a long time; thanks for posting it.
posted by TedW at 11:37 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

How long until PETA links this story to bus beheadings?
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:38 AM on August 7, 2008

*runs around*

*falls over*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:47 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Old news.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:56 AM on August 7, 2008

What The Cluck?
posted by solipsophistocracy at 11:59 AM on August 7, 2008

sorry
posted by solipsophistocracy at 12:00 PM on August 7, 2008

(Does this set some kind of record for time between double-post and original post?)
posted by louie at 12:00 PM on August 7, 2008

Best line from the Wiki article: "A pickled chicken head was also on display with Mike, but this was not Mike's original head, as a cat had already eaten it."

That could have made some $$$ by touring, too, as "The Cat That Ate The Head of Mike, The Headless Chicken!"
posted by davidmsc at 12:03 PM on August 7, 2008

Robot chicken.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:03 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

[I saw the original, but I figured it was eight years ago, only got two comments, and was discussing the festival, not the really the rooster himself.]
posted by quin at 12:14 PM on August 7, 2008

How exactly did he feed him? Through his neck hole?
posted by metaboy at 12:37 PM on August 7, 2008

How exactly did he feed him? Through his neck hole?

Yes, they stuck a funnel in his neck and poured feed into it. I <3 Mike.
posted by adamdschneider at 12:42 PM on August 7, 2008

louise was still drunk. during the night she had shaved her eyebrows. she shuffled across the dusty mexican street from the hotel to the catholic church in bedroom slippers and an open robe. there she found the old priest with the bellrope in his hands. "hey, asshole" she said, "if you ring that fucking bell one more time, i'll rip your goddam nuts off!"
posted by kitchenrat at 1:12 PM on August 7, 2008

Chicken Chicken Chicken: Chicken Chicken.
posted by Iosephus at 1:24 PM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yeah? And? We all know about Mike.
posted by agregoli at 1:46 PM on August 7, 2008

"Certain motherfuckers think they can fuck with my shit, but you can't kill the Rooster. You might can fuck him up sometimes, but, bitch, nobody kills the motherfucking Rooster. You know what I'm saying?"
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:45 PM on August 7, 2008 [2 favorites]

Bwark?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:48 PM on August 7, 2008

Punk ass wanna-be!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:46 PM on August 7, 2008

This Way to the Egress.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:38 PM on August 7, 2008

There is a teen book out, called The Hanging Woods, in which a kid tries to beat the 18 month record. The book itself is disturbing, but definitely a thought-provoking read.
posted by brina at 5:56 PM on August 7, 2008

I don't know, but are they related?
posted by Mojojojo at 6:17 PM on August 7, 2008

Don't try this at home, though.

Why not? At worst, the chicken dies immediately and you get to have fried chicken. Yum, yum.
posted by orange swan at 6:31 PM on August 7, 2008

You can't kill the rooster.
posted by wv kay in ga at 9:44 PM on August 7, 2008

Clearly it was Diablo.
posted by polyglot at 11:09 PM on August 7, 2008

We've had a brainless President for 8 years, that's gotta be some kind of record.
posted by mazola at 12:06 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

"Salt Lake City, then as now a center of sophisticated entertainment..."

its my hometown & i've gotta vouch for the place.
utah's crazy as all get out, it's true.
but slc is actually pretty bad ass. something about all of us liberals feeling oppressed by the mormons totally further radicalizes us.

but i haven't lived there in years...
posted by punkbitch at 1:06 AM on August 8, 2008