Article Analysis: Mike The Headless Chicken

I have to say this a very disturbing article as Lloyd Olsen was very insensitive and cruel to the poor chicken. I believe this statement is very cruel “When Olsen found Mike the next morning, sleeping with his "head" under his wing, he decided that if Mike had that much will to live, he would figure out a way to feed and water him” (City of Fuita, 2015). Although I disagree with what he did to the chicken I have to say it is fascinating that Mike the headless chicken was able to survive for 18 months without his head. The reason I believe Mike the headless chicken was able to live was because as Olsen hit him with the blade he missed the chicken’s jugular vein which is one of the large veins in the neck that supplies blood from the head to
the heart and a clot that formed prevented the chicken from bleeding out. He also had some brain stem left which helped maintain him healthy and alive. The reason he was able to walk was because he had one of his ears left which helped him maintain balance as it is mentioned in our that our semicircular canal of our inner ear is responsible for our balance. He was also able to walk because most of chicken’s reflexes are controlled by their brain stem. The reason humans aren’t able to live and walk without their head as chickens can, I believe is because we as humans use more complex functions that are related to our brain. Our brain is designed to send signals to different parts of our bodies in order to keep it functioning. If we lose our head we lose the ability to receive signals to parts of our body causing us to not be able to walk or even live. For humans the brain is a very important part needed for daily functions and is critical to our lives as without it we won’t be able to function.