Teenage chickens

Anyone who's kept chickens knows there's a hierarchy in the henhouse. It's where the term 'pecking order' likely originated. These five young Wyandotte pullets are at the bottom of the pecking order, so they tend to gather on high perches where they can quietly gossip and peer wistfully out at the world they're not yet allowed to wander without escort. Left loose, they're likely to get into all sorts of trouble.

The evidence

After studying the clues, I've determined that the poor, innocent puppy was lured onto the treacherous, snow dusted swimming pool ice by Callie, the conniving calico cat. The cat exited through the railing on the far side of the pool. The puppy, however, has been eating well and no longer fits through such narrow gaps.

Fortunately for the puppy, aka Bebe, it's been wickedly cold this week. The ice didn't crack. Cat chasing, however, must have been a challenge. So was the big leap from the ice back onto the deck.

A side note: we're trying out a new type of pool cover this winter. We opted for a mesh-type that would act as a strainer and allow the rainwater to filter through but catch the leaves. (Always an issue when surrounded by oaks that seem reluctant to part with their leaves in a timely manner.) Theoretically, this new cover should make spring pool cleanup a bit easier. Those light streaks in the cover are supposed to be reflective strips that melt snow and ice. Hope the spring cleanup theory proves more effective than the melting theory.