How long can a chicken live without About two years. On 10 September 1945, a plump young cockerel in Fruita, Colorado, had his head chopped off and lived. Incredibly, the axe had missed the jugular vein and left enough of the brain stem attached to the neck for him to survive, even thrive. Mike, as he was known, became a national celebrity, touring the country and featuring in Time and Life magazines.
