Prison opens ‘chicken wing’ to help inmates

Inmates are looking after chickens as part of a new prison activity scheme.

Eggs produced at HMP Leeds’s “Chicken Wing” are used in the kitchen or sold to staff. Under the supervision of staff, prisoners help tend to around 50 freerange chickens.

The birds are located in an outdoor area within the prison’s grounds, with sheds used to house them at night.

The initiative was revealed in the annual report of the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

It said that “2018 saw the introduction of chickens into the prison (the ‘Chicken Wing’) and the eggs that are produced are sold to staff and also used in the kitchen”.

The IMB’S chairman Barrie Meakin said the idea was for prisoners to learn about animal husbandry.