How long can chicken stay alive without a head?

A chicken can typically only survive for a few minutes after being decapitated. The familiar sight of a "headless chicken running around" is a result of spinal cord reflexes, not continued life. However, the annals of history hold a truly remarkable exception that defies this norm, highlighting a unique aspect of avian anatomy.
 

However, the incredible story of Mike the Headless Chicken stands as a testament to the fact that, under very specific and rare circumstances, survival is possible for much longer like 18 Months. Mike, a Wyandotte chicken, lived for an astonishing 18 months after a farmer's axe failed to complete the job in September 1945