The effect of maternal dietary fats on growth rate and bone development of commercial broilers was examined. Addition of fats [soybean oil (SBO), menhaden oil (MO) and chicken fat (CF)] to the maternal diet altered the tissue and yolk composition of the hens to reflect the dietary fat source. Day-old chick tissues from hens fed MO diet exhibited greater (P ≤0.01) amounts of EPA (20:5n3), DPA (22:5n3), DHA (22:6n3) and total ω-3 fatty acids, and significantly (P ≤0.01) less 20:4n6 than those from hens fed SBO and CF diets. Tissues of day-old chicks from SBO fed hens had larger amounts of 18:2n6, 18:3n3 and total w-6 fatty acids compared to those from CF and MO maternal diets (P ≤ 0.01). These differences disappeared at 4 (WOA) weeks of age. Male and female chicks from the MO maternal diet were lighter (P ≤0.01) during the grow out period than those from CF and SBO diets. Chick tibiae width and diameter from the SBO maternal diet tended to be larger than the MO maternal diet, with significance being noted at d 14 (P ≤ 0.01) and 28 (P ≤ 0.01). Increases (P ≤ 0.01) were observed in shear force and stress required to break chick tibiae from the SBO maternal diet compared to those from the CF and MO maternal diets. The SBO maternal diet stimulates growth rate and bone development and strength of the progeny. / Master of Science