The effects of maternal and starter diet polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition on the tocopherol (TOC) status of posthatch chicks were investigated. Fertile eggs enriched with long chain n-3, 18:3 n-3 or 18:2 n-6 PUFA were incubated. The eggs were collected from hens fed diets containing 3.5% menhaden oil (MO), linseed oil (LO), or sunflower oil (SO) and a vitamin E mix containing 400 microg/g total TOC. Posthatch chicks from MO, LO, or SO were fed starter diets containing 3.5% MO, LO, or SO along with vitamin E mix containing 48 microg/g total TOC. Tissues (liver, blood, brain) were collected on d 0 (day of hatch), 7, 14, and 21 posthatch. On d 0, MO chicks had the lowest liver and plasma TOC (P < 0.05). A rapid depletion of liver and plasma TOC was observed on d 7 and 14 posthatch (P < 0.001) and was lower in MO chicks (P < 0.05) than LO. When compared with d 0, a 98% decrease of tocopherol on d 7 was observed for chicks from all treatments. No changes due to age or diet PUFA was observed in the brain TOC status. Data showed that maternal and starter diet PUFA could alter the TOC status of chicks in early life.