5 ms·

Mike the Headless Chicken

52 points by kposehn 11y ago

jsackmann 11y ago
>the chicken earned US$4,500 per month ($47,700 today)[5] and was valued at $10,000 Not a very generous multiplier, but then again, the actuarial tables for a headless chicken wouldn't be all that favorable.
- Desustorm 11y ago
  Maybe it would make for some interesting taxidermy post-mortem... though I suppose it would be difficult to differentiate between "this chicken whose head I just cut off" and "this one lived for 18 months"!
jensen123 11y ago
Reminds me of this story about using headless chickens for meat production: http://www.wired.com/2012/02/headless-chicken-solution/ http://www.wired.com/2012/02/headless-chicken-solution/
- robotkilla 11y ago
  That's horrifyingly nasty. Between this, the cowspiricy documentary, new studies surrounding meat consumption and cancer I'm strongly considering becoming a vegetarian again.
  - jpallen 11y ago
    This sounds a lot more humane than current practices. I would be much more inclined to eat meat grown without a 'brain' to suffer with.
    - robotkilla 11y ago
      I see the illogicality in my reaction but it still makes me nauseous - I can't quite put my finger on why.
      - snerbles 11y ago
        It's a visceral reaction, I wouldn't be surprised if it were related to the psychology behind the uncanny valley.
vlunkr 11y ago
I know someone from this town. They are still proud of their chicken.
- joezydeco 11y ago
  I was actually in Fruita earlier this year. My hosts proudly took me to the statue and told me the story. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11178 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11178
- nwertman 11y ago
  I grew up there... The Mike the Headless Chicken festival was always a highlight of my youth! Also worth noting, Frozen Dead Guy Days are pretty awesome too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Dead_Guy_Days https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Dead_Guy_Days
DanBC 11y ago
The BBC did a report on this, and it got posted here (with some discussion) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200625 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200625
- dang 11y ago
  Most unexpected dupe of the day.
sph130 11y ago
Why is this on HN? i just read it and now feel... well i'm not sure but it's different than before when i read this article and the comments. And its not even lunch time yet. Back to work for me.
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  > now feel... well i'm not sure but it's different than before when i read this article and the comments That's the feeling of learning a new incredible science fact! Also, if you feel that you died a little inside then, as a quote attributed to /b/ goes, "That was the weak part. Now you're stronger."

52 points by kposehn 11y ago

>the chicken earned US$4,500 per month ($47,700 today)[5] and was valued at $10,000 Not a very generous multiplier, but then again, the actuarial tables for a headless chicken wouldn't be all that favorable.

Desustorm 11y ago
Maybe it would make for some interesting taxidermy post-mortem... though I suppose it would be difficult to differentiate between "this chicken whose head I just cut off" and "this one lived for 18 months"!

jensen123 11y ago

Reminds me of this story about using headless chickens for meat production: http://www.wired.com/2012/02/headless-chicken-solution/ http://www.wired.com/2012/02/headless-chicken-solution/

robotkilla 11y ago
That's horrifyingly nasty. Between this, the cowspiricy documentary, new studies surrounding meat consumption and cancer I'm strongly considering becoming a vegetarian again.
- jpallen 11y ago
  This sounds a lot more humane than current practices. I would be much more inclined to eat meat grown without a 'brain' to suffer with.
  - robotkilla 11y ago
    I see the illogicality in my reaction but it still makes me nauseous - I can't quite put my finger on why.
    - snerbles 11y ago
      It's a visceral reaction, I wouldn't be surprised if it were related to the psychology behind the uncanny valley.

vlunkr 11y ago

I know someone from this town. They are still proud of their chicken.

joezydeco 11y ago
I was actually in Fruita earlier this year. My hosts proudly took me to the statue and told me the story. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11178 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11178
nwertman 11y ago
I grew up there... The Mike the Headless Chicken festival was always a highlight of my youth! Also worth noting, Frozen Dead Guy Days are pretty awesome too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Dead_Guy_Days https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Dead_Guy_Days

DanBC 11y ago

The BBC did a report on this, and it got posted here (with some discussion) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200625 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200625

dang 11y ago
Most unexpected dupe of the day.

sph130 11y ago

Why is this on HN? i just read it and now feel... well i'm not sure but it's different than before when i read this article and the comments. And its not even lunch time yet. Back to work for me.

TeMPOraL 11y ago
> now feel... well i'm not sure but it's different than before when i read this article and the comments That's the feeling of learning a new incredible science fact! Also, if you feel that you died a little inside then, as a quote attributed to /b/ goes, "That was the weak part. Now you're stronger."