When cooking a whole chicken, it is generally not necessary to cover it while it's in the oven. However, there can be exceptions depending on the specific recipe or cooking method you are using.
Roasting a chicken uncovered allows the skin to brown and crisp up, giving it an appealing texture. It also helps the heat to circulate around the chicken evenly, promoting even cooking and browning. However, if you find that the chicken is browning too quickly or the skin is becoming too dark, you can loosely tent it with foil to prevent further browning while allowing the chicken to continue cooking.
Some recipes may call for covering the chicken with foil or placing a lid on the roasting pan at the beginning of the cooking process. This can help retain moisture and prevent the chicken from drying out, especially if you're using a high heat cooking method like braising. In such cases, the chicken is usually uncovered during the latter part of the cooking process to allow the skin to brown.
It's always a good idea to follow a specific recipe's instructions for cooking times, temperatures, and whether or not to cover the chicken to achieve the desired results.