Abstract
The dynamics of the village poultry population was studied in the region of Keita in Niger. A weekly survey was carried out for 8 weeks in the dry season and 8 weeks in the rainy season in 47 families chosen at random in five villages. The principal species raised were: chickens, guinea fowl, pigeons and ducks. In 85% of cases, poultry was owned by men and in 15% by women. Pigeons were kept by children. Feed and housing were rudimentary. Mortality was essentially due to predation of chicks and of growers while other losses were through trampling, drowning and rain. Mortality due to disease was negligible during the periods of the survey. Mortality and predation were responsible for 83% of offtakes from chickens and 43% from guinea fowl. A greater proportion of guinea fowl (57%) were consumed and sold than chickens (14%).
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