Box 167, home to a family of Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), had its chicks banded today. Black-Capped Chickadees often lay 6 to 8 eggs, and incubation lasts 11 to 14 days on average. This mother laid 8, which have since hatched into some healthy Chickadee chicks. In 12 to 16 days, we will probably see these chicks leave the nest. Their parents will continue to feed them for some time, but they are able to hunt on their own after only a week after leaving the nest.