Egypt. Poult. Sci. Vol (32) (IV): (809-817) 1 VILLAGE CHICKEN FLOCK OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRAINTS IN KEANA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA By D. I. Hassan, 1 , Ogah, D.M 2 Yusuf, N. D. 1 , Musa-Azara, I. S. 1 , Ari, M.M. 2 , 2 And Alaga, A.A 3 1 Anim. Sci. Dep., Coll. of Agric. P.M.B 033, Lafia Nasarawa St.- Nigeria 2 Dep. of Anim. Sci., Fac. of Agric., Nasarawa St. Univ. Keffi,Shabu- Lafia campus. Nasarawa St., Nigeria. 3 Dep. of Vet. Patho. and Microb., Coll. of Vet. Med., Univ. of Agric., Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria *Corresponding author. E-mail: mosesdogah@yahoo.com Received: 26/10/2012 Accepted: 21/11/2012 ABSTRACT: A survey on Village chicken flock ownership, management and constraints in Keana local government area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was carried out using structured questionnaires. One thousand, five hundred (1,500) flock owners were selected using multistage sampling techniques from six villages. Keana town has the highest chicken population (37.02%) followed by Kadarko, Giza, Aloshi, Kwara and Agaza with (24.66, 15.53, 9.06, 8.53 and 5.19% ) respectively. Majority (65.50% )of the flock owners were males while 31.50% are females. A total of 83.87 per cent of the village chicken population is under extensive management system. Breeding was generally uncontrolled. It also showed that the highest population of the village chicken (65.13%) roost on branches of tree at night as compare to 29.20 and 5.67% for those housed at one corner of the main family house and an overhang attached to the roof of the houses respectively. The result of the analysis also showed that major production constraints was diseases (52%) majorly (Newcastle disease, fowl cholera and fowl pox) which is followed by stealing, predators and parasites with 28, 12 and 8% respectively. Local method of treatment ranging from 43.53 to 66.41%, slaughter 4.69 to 28.08% and others sale, gift and no action are methods adopted for controlling diseased flocks. Adequate disease control measures through provision of health facilities and improved housing system are recommended for the communities. INTRODUCTION In Nigeria, food production has not increased at the rate that can meet the increasing human population, while food production increases at the rate of 2.5%, food demand increase at a rate more than 3.5% due to the high rate of population growth of 2.8% (FAO, 1997). Therefore, poultry represents an appropriate system to feed the fast growing population and also play an important role in household food security. Although, there are 800 million people that are suffering from malnutrition all over the world due to inadequate animal protein in the diet of a large proportion of the population especially in the rural areas which constitute 70% of Nigeria population (FAO, 1993; Ojo, 2003). Many authors described the indigenous domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) reared in the African rural areas and gave names to them in terms such ‘African chicken’, ‘bush chicken’ or ‘runner chicken’ (Sonaiya, 1990; Kounta, 1991; Guèye and Bessei, 1997). As indicated by