Jbto the RESCUE!

Feature | Interview Feature reproduced courtesy of Your Chickens magazine: www.yourchickens.co.uk JB’s story Jonathan Benjamin ‘JB’ Gill is best known as a former member of boy band JLS, who came JB to the second place on The X Factor in 2008. They went on to have five number- one singles and sold over 10 million records RESCUE! worldwide before disbanding in 2013. He is now farming in Kent and A former pop star has adopted some has recently come back ex-battery hens and become a supporter into the spotlight presenting Songs of Praise of the British Hen Welfare Trust. The on TV. charity talked to him about his chickens 16 Your Chickens January 2018 www.yourchickens.co.uk ost of the time we are getting on brilliantly! We lost LEFT: JB... embracing I wouldn’t say I was surprised made well aware at one to the fox unfortunately but ‘the good life’ but I did notice that they were Hen Central if we they’ve settled in well and ABOVE: JB with his very hardy and that they could have a celeb about to having a great time. My son wife Chloe and turkeys be very determined. Once, Madopt some of our beautiful Ace was tasked with naming on their farm while Ace was feeding them hens. However, in the case of them but every time I ask him from the bucket he normally pop-star-turned-farmer JB (of which is which, he can never uses, one of them jumped into JLS fame) he ended up remember! the bucket. She must have been adopting three of our hens hungry! somewhat by accident, after How many chickens did stumbling across a re-homing you have before the What’s your favourite thing in Kent while out walking his ex-bats arrived? about keeping chickens? dogs! We caught up with him to We had three chickens before My favourite thing about find out how his girls are the ex-bats arrived and they’ve chickens is undoubtedly getting on, as well as ask him all managed to get on just fine. I getting to try the lovely eggs about life on the farm with wife think the ex-bats spent a good laid fresh every day. Nothing Chloe and son Ace. three days sleeping outside the beats a fresh farm egg; all of my coop but a little gentle persua- friends and family members Firstly, you adopted some sion got them inside. literally take it in turns to take of our hens back in May home a box and they ALWAYS – how are they getting on? Did anything surprise you want to meet the girls who lay The hens we adopted are about your ex-bats? them! It’s a great way for my www.yourchickens.co.uk January 2018 Your Chickens 17 Feature | Interview son, Ace, to bond with animals watching it since I was a young too, as our pigs are massive and boy. I was extremely excited to the turkeys are a much larger be named as a new presenter bird for a little boy to handle. and after performing on the show earlier in the year, the We can imagine you’re executives of the show and at pretty busy down on the the BBC decided to give me a farm, but who is responsi- shot at presenting! I love that I ble for cleaning out the am able to combine my love of coop in your household? music, my faith and my A motto in my family house- passion for the outdoors in one, hold was always if you want it, iconic show. It really is the you have to look after it! So I perfect job for me. take responsibility for looking after the animals and cleaning Talking of being busy, you out the coop. I actually find it must enjoy having a bit of quite therapeutic! down time. What’s your favourite way to relax with We have an education Chloe and Ace? programme launching later Whenever we get a chance to this year to teach primary relax, we often go walking or to school pupils all about hen visit a farm attraction with Ace welfare and where their - he gets to see a bigger variety food comes from. Do you of animals on other farms! think growing up around Sometimes it’s even better just animals has had a positive to stay in and do silly things impact on Ace? like cook, paint and watch a Absolutely. Not only has it film together. We are always given Ace a sense of responsi- above: Ex-batttery hens set up the farm – how did travelling and Ace usually bility and an appreciation for have lots of appeal you overcome this? comes with us so it is impor- animals and how they should picturE: Jo Barlow I have never grown up being tant to us to rest as well. be treated, it’s given him a very conventional. I have never great sense of security, growing put limits on myself or my What do you think about up on a farm with animals and achievements and so the the work of the British Hen jobs to do. He loves being transition from pop star to Welfare Trust? outside and you can see that he farmer was easier for me than I think the work that the is so proud of what he has. it was for anybody else! My British Hen Welfare Trust does My favourite faith is an intrinsic part of my is invaluable. I think laying You’re obviously as life and it has taught me the hen welfare does have to be passionate as we are about thing about value of resourcefulness and addressed as the condition of encouraging children to get chickens is making the best use of some of the birds is appalling. outside and learn where everything you have, no matter All animals need love and care, their food comes from – undoubtedly much, or how little. That is whether they serve a commer- you must be very pleased how the farm concept was cial function or not, so being at how popular CBeebies getting to try birthed and my passion for it able to save over 580,000 hens’ Down On The Farm has the lovely has grown daily. When Ace was lives makes every bit of become? born, the need to spread the difference. Although I wasn’t Absolutely. It’s something that eggs laid word about food, its origins and explicitly aware of the Trust people are really wanting to fresh every the process it takes to reach our before I stumbled across the learn about and it’s a show for tables became even more re-homing, I am an avid all of the family, no matter day apparent. I take great pride in supporter of all that you do. what the age. The show was using my past successes and nominated for a BAFTA and I profile to boost an industry that Finally, because we’re as was so excited; to be recognised needs more recognition than it much about eggs as we are out of all the children’s shows gets. about chickens, tell us your produced and knowing the favourite eggy dish! humble beginnings of Down On And now, on to Songs of French toast! Thick crusty The Farm, it was an honour in Praise! Huge congratula- bread, soaked in egg, seasoned itself. tions – you must be very with cinnamon and topped excited about the role? after cooking with honey and From pop star to farmer Songs Of Praise was a fantastic berries! Sweet, yet savoury! – quite a career change! opportunity which I had to take You must have faced some with two hands! I would never * Interview reproduced courtesy judgement and question- have imagined presenting the of the British Hen Welfare Trust ing when you decided to show, having grown up www.bhwt.org.uk 18 Your Chickens January 2018 www.yourchickens.co.uk.

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