I smoked some whole chickens aaaand....

[4R Daddy]

They came out pretty dark. I was using hickory charcoal and a few chunks. They tasted great but I always wonder if my smoke is the right color. People talk about white/blue smoke.....it's all the same color to me. Are these chickens too dark?

[Sparkles]

Chickens will get dark

I've been wrapping them for the last 1.5 hours just to keep the color where I want it.

[stickerpatch59]

they look good to me. I've seen them pitch black and they were really good.

[Drewboy22]

For hickory that looks about right. Looks good too

Here is some I did for comparison.

These were smoked with some apple wood:



These were smoked with some Peach wood:

[jerp]

When I smoke chickens I don't eat the skin anyway. When you cook them "low and slow" for several hours the skin does not crisp-up and turns out too rubbery to be edible IMO. (but the meat is great!)

[3DW5]

Skins the best part.

[JTCowpoke]

If you want them more golden lay off the chunks once they start turning brown. You may only need no chunks or maybe only one fist size chunk for the entire cook if you are using hickory charcoal. You really don't need to see much smoke coming out of the smoker. The smoke coming out should be just noticeable.

[TC]

Your color isn't too far off, they look like they are nice and juicy for sure! These are a few of my birds. I cook with oak lump or hickory lump and a few chunks of cherry wood for just a kiss of smoke.

[bullhead44]

Those would be a little dark for competition, but fine for eating. TC, yours look spot on. As far as the smoke goes, once your fire is right, I was always told the less smoke you see the better. Its there, but its clear if that makes any sense. There will be more smoke seen as you add wood, but not from the coals.

[Mike D]

Skins the best part.

Chicken skin is gross, unless it's fried.

[LWD]

There's some variation based on the wood. Orange wood smoke will turn the chickens black. Chicken does well with a variety of woods. Experiment to see what you like. I don't like much mesquite smoked, but chicken is the exception.

LWD

[125Dad]

Looks good to me

X2 on the skin is the best part

[Smart]

Skins the best part.

Agreed when smoked and done right.

[Smart]

They tasted great but I always wonder if my smoke is the right color. People talk about white/blue smoke.....it's all the same color to me. [ATTACH]744284[/ATTACH]

It's very easy. Here are some pics for reference.

[IowaHunter]

I love any and all smoked chicken - most people do too.