"He put (the eggs) near his testicles so they would be at nest temperature," a police spokesman said. 
Police discovered 21 parrots, four parakeets and two snakes hidden in two large suitcases carried by Austrian botanist Johann Zillinger. They also found Zillinger had rolled five parakeet eggs into a sock and nestled them in his underwear. "Since some of the parakeets that he had with him were newborns, we assume that some of the eggs had already hatched." 

Tipped off by an anonymous call, Rio de Janeiro police arrested the Austrian on Monday as he climbed into a taxi on his way to catch a flight to Europe. The arrest was only made public on Wednesday.  According to police, Zillinger bought the animals in the Amazon port city of Belen and planned to take them to Austria to sell them in Europe. 
Environmentalists believe animal trafficking is widespread in Brazil, home to the world's biggest rain forest. They estimate the trade is worth more than $35 million a year. 

After picking up Zillinger in front of his Copacabana beach hotel, police also arrested a worker at the airport that they believe was set to help him move his baggage through customs.  Zillinger has been released on bail but faces charges of animal trafficking, the spokesman said. Zillinger could not be reached for comment. 
[source: www.cnn.com 2/15/2001]

Lloyd knew his Mother in Law would be dining with them and would savor the neck.  He positioned his axe precisely, estimating just the right tolerances, to leave a generous neck bone. "It was as important to Suck-Up to your Mother in Law in the 40's as it is today." A skillful blow was executed and the chicken staggered around like most freshly terminated poultry. Then the determined bird shook off the traumatic event and never looked back. Mike (it is unclear when the famous rooster took on the name) returned to his job of being a chicken. He pecked for food and preened his feathers just like the rest of his barnyard buddies. 

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. With an eyedropper Mike was given grain and water. It was becoming obvious that Mike was special. A week into Mike's new life Olsen packed him up and took him 250 miles to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The skeptical scientists were eager to answer all the questions regarding Mike's amazing ability to survive with no head. It was determined that axe blade had missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was in a jar, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem Mike was able to remain quite healthy. In the 18 MONTHS  that Mike lived as "The Headless Wonder Chicken" he grew from a mere 2 1/2 lbs. to nearly 8 lbs. In a Gayle Meyer interview Olsen said Mike was a "robust chicken - a fine specimen of a chicken except for not having a head." Some longtime Fruita residents, gathered at the Monument Cafe for coffee, also remember Mike - "he was a big fat chicken who didn't know he didn't have a head" - "he seemed as happy as any other chicken." Mike's excellent state of health made it difficult for animal-rights activists to garner much of a following. Even now the town of Fruita celebrates Mike's impressive will to live, not the nature of his handicap.
[Source: http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org - Life Magazine - Oct 22, 1945]