“I got chickens for my kids… but they’ve given so much back to me.”

Best known for his soulful voice and chart-topping songs including September Song, JP Cooper spends much of his life creating music. But at home, life looks a little different. Between homeschooling, raising three children and looking after a growing flock of chickens, the singer-songwriter has discovered that some of life’s biggest moments of inspiration come from slowing down. What started as a project for his children has become something much bigger.

JP’s journey into chicken keeping began thanks to his sister, a teacher who runs hatching projects in schools. After seeing how naturally his son Leo connected with the newly hatched chicks, JP and his wife decided to bring the experience home. “They seemed to instantly really calm him down,” JP says. “We thought, let’s do it ourselves.” Initially, it was all about giving their children responsibility, routine and another way to learn while homeschooling. “I thought, you know, this is something for the kids,” he laughs. “But I actually think I’m enjoying the chickens more than anybody.”

That unexpected twist has become one of the biggest surprises of keeping chickens. Like many first-time owners, JP expected them to be hard work. “Every time we get pets I’m always kind of like, ‘Why the hell have we done this?’” he jokes. “But this has really surprised me.” Instead of becoming another task on the to-do list, the flock has become a daily opportunity to slow down. “There’s something about just watching them do their thing that sort of slows me down,” he says. “I’m searching for the things that help my brain be present.” For someone balancing family life with a busy creative career, that pause has become invaluable. “If you’re not allowing yourself time to switch off all the noise in your head, there’s no room for new ideas and new inspiration.”

The chickens have also become an unexpected anchor for family life. Every morning, Leo pulls on his Crocs and heads straight outside to let them out. “The first thing he does nearly every single morning is go out the back door and let the chickens out,” says JP. “It’s become part of our morning and we absolutely love it.” For Leo, who is autistic, it’s a routine he chooses himself. Rather than being told to go outside, the chickens naturally spark his curiosity. “He’ll follow them around, then he’ll spot a bug on a rock and become interested in that. They’re just a great entryway to the garden.” It’s a simple ritual, but one that encourages time outdoors, child-led learning and moments of calm for the whole family.

JP admits he had all the same worries many prospective chicken keepers have. He thought they would smell, be messy and create extra work. Instead, he says, “It’s just so, so, so easy.” Cleaning takes minutes, the Eglu Pro Chicken Coop stays remarkably fresh, and the overall Omlet setup has made everyday jobs even simpler. “The Smart Feeder closing at night… it’s just a game changer,” he says. “It couldn’t be easier. I think that’s the biggest surprise I’ve had.”

Although the family’s hens haven’t started laying yet, JP already feels they’ve given them something far more valuable than fresh eggs. They’ve encouraged the whole family to spend more time outdoors, inspired dreams of growing their own food and reminded him to appreciate life’s quieter moments. “My dream has always been to disappear one day and live simply with my family, have some animals and grow our own vegetables,” he says. “The world feeds us this idea that you need this and you need that to be happy. But actually, when you boil it down to our basic needs, we’re not that complicated.”

For now, that simpler life starts with a coffee in hand, opening the coop door and watching the chickens wander into a new day. “I got them thinking they were for the kids,” JP says. “But they’ve given so much back to me.” JP has even started taking his guitar into the coop for some music time with his flock. Check it out.

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