In this paper we investigate the role of poultry in households’ livelihood portfolios, and the livelihood impacts of supply and demand shocks that may be caused by avian flu outbreaks and scares. We focus on four sub-Saharan African countries that represent a spectrum of disease status and spread. By using nationally representative data and econometric methods, we profile the characteristics of households that are most likely to keep poultry and to be engaged in intensive poultry production, and estimate the ex-ante livelihood impacts of avian flu shocks. The results are expected to aid in the design of targeted avian flu control policies.