38 THE HOME POULTRY, BOOK 
ployed. The principal point in building the poultry 
house is to have it dry and perfectly tight. With 
matched boards and a good quality of patent roofing, 
this purpose is accomplished. 
The floor may be of earth, boards or concrete, 
depending largely upon circumstances. In loca- 
tions where water seeps away quickly, earth floors 
answer as well as any, but they should be built up 
at least a foot higher than the surface of the ground 
outside. The earth should be packed solidly and 
several inches of gravel thrown on top, to be re- 
moved and renewed once or twice a year. If rats 
bother, inch-mesh poultry wire may be laid several 
inches under the surface and made fast to the foun- 
dation. Another plan is to shovel out the earth 
around the outside of the house to the depth of a 
foot and the same distance from the foundation, 
and to place poultry wire so that it will extend down 
a foot into the ground and then a foot away from 
the house. This will prevent the rats digging in, 
as they always work close to the foundation. 
If the house is on a side hill or elevated from 
the ground, board floors may be used; but they 
should not be laid over damp ground with the ex- 
pectation of keeping the house dry. An earth floor 
