Whole Chickens Question

[Max]

I want to do one or two whole chickens in the OBS. Probably a couple of 4 - 5 pounders. My question is about the grease drip from the birds. I know when I cook birds on the gas grill I get a ton of drips from the fat and skin. At times this has caused a BLAZING INFERNO and near burned down the back porch on a few occasions.

Should I have the same concerns for doing chickens in the OBS? Any tips for doing this safely and minimizing cleanup? I'm envisioning a pool of grease pouring out the door when I open it :)

[FLBentRider]

I have done lots of chickens in the bradley with no inferno or grease pooling issues.

Keep the vent WIDE OPEN.

Make sure the food is not touching the sides of the cabinet, particularly the back wall.

The liquid from the birds should end up in the puck water bowl.

If you like the skin, you may want to pull them out a little early and finish them on the grill or in the oven.

[KyNola]

Nothing to add here as FLBR is spot on.

KyNola

[Max]

Good to know. Thanks fellas.

[Quarlow]

Yeah thats the whole idea of the v shaped drip tray. To catch all the drippings and funnel them to the water pan. Good luck.

[standles]

I will only add...

Watch the bowl doesn't overflow.

I split my whole birds (cut down each side of the backbone) and lay flat for more even cooking.


Steven

[Hoss]

I will only add...

Watch the bowl doesn't overflow.

I split my whole birds (cut down each side of the backbone) and lay flat for more even cooking.


Steven

Never tried down the backbone.  I split the breasts.

[KevinG]

I will only add...

Watch the bowl doesn't overflow.

I split my whole birds (cut down each side of the backbone) and lay flat for more even cooking.


Steven

Never tried down the backbone.  I split the breasts.

A man after my own heart.

[hal4uk]

I think Hoss does 'em that way cause he likes to say he "split the breasts"  ;D

Max, here's the birds Hoss did today...
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=13654.0;topicseen

[Quarlow]

I have seen them split down the breast. Hoss is there a reason you split them down the back? They look pretty neat with the wings sitting the way you did those.