Have you seasoned it yet ? If not I would spray it down with cooking oil and let it burn for a couple of hours pretty hot. I would let the temp come back down and then throw something on it. You could throw some chicken quarters on there if you like the yard bird, pretty cheap and can cook them pretty quick. A butt is not too expensive but it'll take a while to cook and it's pretty late in the day. Just take your time and enjoy it, give it a little time after you make any adjustments to your intake so you're sure what it's doing.
I have got it seasoned and just have the itch, thinking of doing it on Monday as I am off all day, love to do a brisket but the bank said no to mu=y loan request. Chicken sounds good also maybe some baked beans along with it.
Chicken as any other fowl will soak up smoke so be sure to keep a nice clean burn going.
A butt is easy rub some mustard on it cover it heavy with your favorite rub, smoke it for 5 hour @230-240 then wrap it in heavy foil,two layers, monitor it for a few more hours and get it to 200* wait a few minutes and shred it. You will be very happy, and DO NOT forget to post Q pics no matter what you do.
Have fun with it for sure!
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
Thanks for the tips, the boss says we are going to do a chicken for the first time, is it better to split it and smoke it laying flat or leave it whole?
I was going to put the smoker to use tomorrow but it's such a nice day i decided this would be it, I think I have done what everyone has said to do and I will post pictures of my Chicken, wish me well or praying would be better. I have been keeping a constant temp on both sides so you guys are best teachers there are.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
That chicken looks awesome.
It looks like a successful first cook.
As you gain more experience, you will get better at it. Just don't get discouraged when the cook doesn't turn out so well.
Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
I want to thank all of you for your tips, and suggestions and how too's they paid off on the smoke. The chicken looked, smelled and tasted fantastic, just the right amount of smoke flavor and not over powering. My wife who doesn't eat a lot of meat anymore pigged out on it. I can see a nice plump pork butt or shoulder in the near future. Thanks once again. Terry