Feb 3, 2020 · Pick up a handful of chicken litter and try to form a ball. The litter should be moist enough to form a ball but should be dry enough to easily break the ball apart with your fingers. After changing the poultry litter, add the old litter to your composter. Try to keep your litter to manure ratio at 3:1 – so 75 percent litter to 25 percent manure.