The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary copper (Cu) supplemental level on performance and melanin content in tissues of Taihe silky fowls aged 1 to 28 days. A total of 270 one-day-old Taihe silky fowls were randomly allotted to 6 groups with 3 replicates per group and 15 birds per replicate. The birds were fed the corn-soybean meal based diet with 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 125 mg/kg Cu, respectively, and were raised to 28 days of age. The results showed as follows: the average daily gain (ADG), the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the ratio of feed to gain (F/G) of Taihe silky fowls aged 1 to 28 days were not significantly influenced by dietary Cu supplemental level (P>0.05). However, the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in serum, liver, kidney, skin and muscle of Taihe silky fowls aged 1 to 28 days were significantly affected by dietary suitable Cu supplementation (P<0.05 or P<0.01). All above parameters tended to increase at first and then decrease with increasing Cu supplemental level, and peaked at 30 mg/kg supplementation. It is concluded that the supplementation of Cu in the diet can stimulate melanin biosynthesis of Taihe silky fowls, and the optimum supplemental level of Cu is 30 mg/kg.