This manual aims to provide, for extension workers and livestock officers, basic information on the production of traditional village chickens and how productivity can be improved by introducing appropriate, low-cost approaches. It describes the initial steps that can be taken to improve village chicken production. The manual is designed as a practical reference tool for extension workers, livestock officers and field veterinarians and can be used in training programme and courses. It is subdivided into three main parts: Part 1: Village chicken and village chicken farmers; Part 2: Housing, nutrition and management; Part 3: Disease and their control. Each part is composed of a series of chapters and each chapter details improvements that could be applied by village chicken producers. The key extension messages of each chapter are summarised at its start.