Zeolites in poultry nutrition

Egg shell quality, egg shell thickness or egg specific gravity are improved, and/or the number of shell-less eggs reduced, when laying poultry is fed a diet comprising a zeolite such as zeolite A and a reduced chloride content. The chloride content of the diet can be below the level previously considered required. Thus, for chickens, both layers and broiler breeders, the chloride content can be below 0.15 percent. The level of zeolite A can be from about 0.25 to about 4.0 weight percent, more preferably from 0.75 to about 1.5 weight percent.