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The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological development of the stomach of broiler chicken using histological and histo-chemical techniques. Thirty fertile eggs and 50 chicks of broiler chicken were used for the study. The results showed that at embryonic day (ED) 14, the simple tubular glands of the proventriculus were poorly defined while the framework of the compound tubular glands of the proventriculus were fully established. The secretory tubules of the compound tubular glands were lined by simple cuboidal cells at embryonic days 14, 17 and 19. However, at post-hatch days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21, each proventricular gland contained several secretory tubules that were lined by both cuboid-shaped and columnar-shaped epithelial cells. The simple tubular glands which appeared as short tubes at ED 17, became elongated at ED 19, assuming adult morphology at post-hatch day (PD) 1. Moreover, at ED 14, poorly defined glandular areas were present in the lamina propria mucosae of the ventriculus. However, at ED 17 and ED 19, elongated pits which represented simple tubular glands were observed in the ventriculus. The production of neutral and acidic mucins in the stomach at ED 14 may reflect early secretory roles of glands in the stomach of broiler chicken. Thus, this study has provided morphological evidence of rapid development of broiler stomach glands in the late prehatch periods and maturation of the glands at hatch. These modifications may be essential for early food ingestion, food digestion and strong innate immune defense just after hatch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]