The increasing incidence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producingEscherichia(E.)coliin backyard chicken farming in Pakistan is of serious concern. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance patterns and risk factors associated with ESBL avian pathogenicE. coli(APEC) isolated from backyard chickens in the Jhang district, Punjab, Pakistan. In total, 320 cloacal swabs were collected from four breeds of backyard chicken (Aseel, Golden, Misri and Necked Neck). ESBLE. coliwere phenotypically identified using double disc synergy test (DDST) and corresponding genes were confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR). Out of the 320 samples, 164 (51.3%) were confirmed asE. coli,while 74 (45.1%) were characterized as ESBLE. coli. The frequency of isolation of ESBLE. coliwas highest in Aseel chickens (35.1%). Of the 164 confirmedE. coli, 95.1%, 78.6%, 76.8%, 71.3%, 70.1%, 68.9%, 60.4% and 57.3% were resistant against tylosin, doxycycline, cefotaxime, enrofloxacin, colistin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol and gentamicin, respectively. The ESBL gene types detected and their corresponding proportions wereblaCTX-M(54.1 %, 40/74),blaTEM, (12.2%, 9/74) and co-existence (blaCTX-MandblaTEM) were shown in 33.8% (25/74). TheblaCTX-Mgene sequence showed homology toblaCTX-M-15from clinical isolates. The mean multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was found to be higher among ESBLE. coli(0.25) when compared to non-ESBLE. coli(0.17). Both free-range husbandry management system (p= 0.02, OR: 30.00, 95% CI = 1.47–611.79) and high antimicrobial usage in the last 6 months (p= 0.01, OR: 25.17, 95% CI = 1.81–348.71) were found significantly associated with isolation of ESBL-producingE. coliin the tested samples using binary logistic regression analysis. This study confirmed the potential of backyard chickens as a reservoir for ESBLE. coliin the Jhang district, Punjab, Pakistan.