•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 



