First try..... It's dry!

Amlucy2

Just got my bge yesterday and tried a whole chicken.  I had a little bit of difficulty keeping them temp to 350-375.  My chicken is dry.  I think I needed to cook it indirect ( I did direct) and try to cook at a little higher temp, rather than hovering around 300.  Is this correct?  Any other suggestions?  I'm going to cut the chicken up and attempt to make a chicken pizza with it.  It's not so dry that it can't be saved.

JRWhitee

What was the internal temp of the chicken when you pulled it, Breast and thigh?

NonaScott

It doesn't really matter what temp you cook it at as long as you don't cook it too long. I cook whole chickens at 250-275 all the time. Pull at 170 breast and never dry.

SMITTYtheSMOKER

Thermapen.

Wardster

Thermapen.  It doesn't matter if you cook on an egg, stove, grill or pan.  If the meat is not removed at the proper temp you will not get proper results.

Amlucy2

Thank you.  I pulled it at 165 but I did use a $5.99 instant thermometer.

Wolfpack

I typically pull around 157 or so and let heat carry to 160 in the breast. At 165 and that higher temp you may have carried to 170+ and was likely the cause of it being dry.

the $5.99 thermo is likely fine- check to make sure reading correct temp in boiling water. 

Darby_Crenshaw

then temperature you cook the meat TO is far more important than the temp you cook it AT

dry meat is always overcooked meat, unfortunately.

nolaegghead

Breast 145 if you cook hot.  150 if you low n slow 

SmokeyPitt

I agree with all the above but a whole chicken is kind of difficult to cook direct if you just set it on the grid and try to turn it.  

You can spatchcock a chicken to cook direct. 
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/spatch.htm

...or you can cook indirect as you suggested.  

Vertical chicken also works.  I have gone indirect using a stand with just an aluminum pie pan and it worked great.  Just don't waste good beer in the vertical application.  If you want to use a beer can to hold it drink the beer first and put a little water in it to weight it down (the beer does nothing for the bird). 

Most importantly check the internal temp to know when it is done which ever method you choose.