Burnt skin

[Newsmoke]

Smoked two chicken halves.  Chicken was fine, but ended up with a black bark crust. Maybe it was the mustard and rub combo. ?

 

[Newsmoke]

Also early in smoke I had what I call a smoke explosion. Lots of smoke out the hole and door. Only lasted a few seconds. Maybe too much wood chunks.

 

[Lonzinomaker]

Belching is caused by the wood gasses combusting in box. Do you have charcoal left over in wood box or only ashes.
The one time I had a black skin was when I used too much wood and ti caught on fire.

 

[Newsmoke]

Yes I did have leftover wood chunks. Probably too much wood.

 

[old sarge]

I don't think the belch charred the skin.  Most likely it was a combination of rub and smoke.

 

[swthorpe]

I agree with Old Sarge -- the combustion issue usually happens in the first heating cycle and my guess is that the fire is extinguished quickly with the strong exhale of smoke.  When I have experienced this, the belch occurs and then I return to normal smoke - always on the first heating cycle.    Did you have the chickens too close to the wood box (I try not to use the lowest rack)?  I don't know how much wood you used, but my bet would be the rub mixture.