Farm animals are joining Utah neighborhoods

Most city or suburban dwellers believe a friendly golden retriever, a pint-size hamster or maybe a frisky ferret (for those who are a little more adventurous) are perfectly nice family pets. The Zundels of Lehi incorporate animals into their family on a more practical level.

Over the years, a varied assortment of farm animals have been part of the Zundel clan, though they lack the accommodations of a typical farm.

Making room for unconventional pets in the various places they have called home, the Zundels have kept bees on their 0.17-acre Sacramento, Calif., property and added chickens to their 0.53-acre North Carolina property, as well as their current 0.4-acre property.

Next up, the Zundels have planned a move to South Jordan, where they hope to expand their animals to include goats, turkeys and ducks.

The family members think of themselves as small farmers and "homesteaders" and have committed to an old-fashioned way of life.

Private family farms of past generations "prevented a lot of the problems we face dealing with 100-acre mono-crop farms that battle soil fertility and pest problems," wife and mother Tessa Zundel said.

The Zundels home-school four children younger than age 8, and always planned on owning farm animals because of their belief in sustainable agriculture, as well as their love of animals and desire to instill a strong work ethic in their children.

Dabbling in classes on organic vegetable farming, animals kept for meat, beekeeping, sheep shearing, orchard growing, cheese making and composting, the Zundels are among an increasing number of people committing to a sustainable lifestyle.

But the Zundels' farming endeavors are on the more invested end of the spectrum; most urban and suburban small farmers settle on raising chickens or small vegetable gardens.

Lillian Angelovic of Salt Lake City has kept two hens as pets for the past three years, though she said she and her family live in "a neighborhood (where) you would not expect to find chickens."

Like the Zundels, the Angelovics home-school their children and see their chickens as a teaching tool, but their main motivation was to have a new, fun experience for the family.

"Chickens are so funny. They're hilarious to watch, and it's just relaxing," Angelovic said.