A handful of studies have investigated the role of household-level poultry keeping in livelihoods.
These studies are mainly based on qualitative or quantitative data generated through rapid
assessment techniques. These studies show that similarly to other African countries, small-scale
backyard or village level poultry contributes to various livelihoods outcomes in Ethiopia, including
gender equality and cash income, in addition to its role in cultural, religious, and traditional practices
(Kitalyi 1998; Tadelle and Ogle 2001; Tadelle et al. 2003; Bush 2006).
While Ethiopia has never had an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), there was
a scare in 2006. This scare caused a massive demand shock that led to a sharp decline in poultry
prices (Alemu et al. 2008). Bush (2006) reports that this shock was particularly severe in urban areas,
where poultry demand decreased by 25 to 30 percent. As a result of the reduction in urban demand
and the subsequent oversupply, poultry prices dropped by 50 to 60 percent, though this plunge was
short-lived.