Escherichia coli is a major pathogen of worldwide importance in commercially produced poultry, contributing significantly to the economic losses in chickens, turkey and ducks. This study was conducted between September 2011 and February 2012 at 6 different farm sites located within 3 senatorial zones of Abia state, Nigeria to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of E. coli isolated from free ranged birds. Out of 127 samples (81.4%) of E. coli were isolated while in 28 samples (18.6%) no E. coli growth was observed. The isolates were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility using 8 commercially available antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. Isolates from cockerels recorded 90, 80 and 70% sensitivity to gentamycine, kenamycin and ciprofloxacin respectively. The least sensitive antibiotics were tetracycline, nalidixic acid and cotrimoxazole, presenting 0.5, 4.0 and 10%. Chloramphenicol and ampicillin presented partial sensitivity of 30 and 40% respectively. E. coli isolates from local fowl recorded 80, 70 and 60% sensitivity against gentamycin, kenamycine and ciprofloxacin. The least sensitive were tetracycline, nalidixic acid and cotrimoxazole 0.0, 2.0 and 5% respectively. For ducks, the values obtained varied with gentanycin recording 70%, while kenamycin and ciprofloxacine were 65 and 60% respectively. The least sensitive were tetracycline, nalidixic acid and cotrimoxazole 0.0, 2.0 and 6.0% respectively. Ampicillin and chloramphenicol presented 40 and 30%. The pattern of antibiotic sensitivity to this bacterial is clinically important for the poultry industry and should be closely monitored.