In conversation with Giovanna Fletcher

FLOCK STAR

Actress, author, podcaster and TV star Giovanna Fletcher has built a career on heartfelt conversations, from her blockbuster Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast to cosy chats with Catherine, Princess of Wales. Here, she tells Andy Hill about how she – and husband Tom Fletcher from the band McFly – have taken BHWT hens into their young family.

When did hens first come into the picture for you and Tom?

We moved into our house about four years ago. The previous owners had a hen and originally said, because they were moving so far away, they’d leave her behind. A few days before we moved in, the owner phoned us and said, I'm so sorry, chicken's run away! So we'd ended up moving in and not having a chicken, which the kids were a bit gutted about. The hen coop was still there in the garden, so we thought, let’s get some chickens.

Why did you choose to rehome ex-commercial hens?

A friend of ours said something about you guys, how you take hens and give them an extra bonus life. We loved the idea of that. Tom and I have gone through spells where we've been vegetarian, vegan, or just eaten anything, and so we’d always known about chickens in big commercial settings. The idea that people go in and rescue hens at a point where they've done a lot of work and they've lived in environments that aren't very nice – it felt right to us.

You recently took home your second flock from the BHWT – how did it go?

This time we knew what to expect a little bit more. We still had one holdover from our previous flock, Caroline. Caroline had been on her own for a few months, and we were debating whether she was happy on her own, or if she needed some mates. Before the new batch arrived, there was a massive frost and Caroline decided to tear out loads of her feathers in preparation for getting new feathers. I walked into the coop one morning, saw feathers everywhere and thought, oh no, a fox has got in. But, no, it was just Caroline with a funky new hairdo. When the new hens arrived, she looked like she'd been on an all-night bender in Ibiza.

How are they settling in now? Are they still laying?

Caroline is holding her own, as the hen who knows the ropes. She’s always first to the gate at snack time. One of our new batch laid an egg on the way home, in January no less, which is amazing. We've had about eight or nine eggs every day since. I've already had to start giving them away. The kids are having eggs and toast every morning before school. When friends stop by I feel real pride sending them home with a box. It’s amazing how much better they taste than anything you get in the shops.

And they make great pets right?

They really are low maintenance – you don't have to worry in the same way that you would a cat or a dog. And there's something about watching chickens. The group dynamics. They definitely have a pecking order. Sometimes I have to wade in and be like “leave Babs alone! Stop being mean!” The kids love all that stuff. It's like a little soap opera.

How involved are your kids in the day-today bits and bobs?

They won't do the mucking out or anything like that, which I guess is standard. But they love being in the coop. When we got back on the first day, it was so hands-on – everybody was involved. My dad came with me to collect them, and then when we got back, my sister and her family were here to welcome them. The hens are a massive part of our everyday lives.

And what about Tom – has mister rockstar fully embraced the hen life?

Tom is definitely a farmer at heart. He loves it. I think we both relish the simplicity of being outside, growing things, nurturing animals. We've got a little ride-on lawnmower, and as soon as we got that, I don't think I've ever seen him so happy. He loves little jobs where he has to get on it and move straw around, or whatever else.

You won I’m a Celebrity a few years ago, and are friends with Catherine, Princess of Wales. Does mucking out hens keep you grounded?

Absolutely, I love it. I turned 40 last year, so maybe it’s an age thing, but I’ve started to love being outside so much more. Having three kids in the house, and occasionally navigating stressful conversations for work, about baby loss, or IVF… tending my veggie patch and looking after the hens gives me an excuse to go outside, guilt free. It’s a whole different world, on a whole different frequency. My little sanctuary.

Finally, if someone’s reading this thinking, “I’d love hens but I’m nervous,” what would you say?

You know how when friends have kids, they sort of start selling the idea of kids to you? I feel like we're now doing that with hens. Every time somebody leaves here with a carton of eggs, and they see how proud we are, and we tell them the story of those chickens – that they simply wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you guys – it makes people think, hey, maybe we could do that.