I have a story for you! After my second egg I decided I wanted to "watch." What a show. Mama my RSL was in the nesting box when I came out. I went inside with her to give support if you will. She was laying in the nesting box picking up pieces of straw and throwing them over her shoulder, she got out...no egg. Went back inside panting, came out no egg. So I went about my business of feeding and watering. Then, Buttercup my BO that is probably next in the laying line came in and played mid-wife for awhile. She was chirping softly to Mama and investigating the nesting box. Finally, I left and went to the window and played "peeping tom." Meanwhile, my roo Bigbird was sexing up some of the other hens while Buttercup was holding down the henhouse and soothing Mama. Then, Bigbird came into the house, Buttercup jumped off the shelf and went out the door. Bigbird took her place as mid-wife. All of the other hens that are usually running in and out and very vocal, stayed out of the house and were surprisingly quiet. Mama was chirping as if pain, a very soft chirp, chirp, chirp with a few gurgling chirps....Bigbird, puffed up like a helium balloon, twice the size of normal, bent down and softly chirped soothingly and then they were conversing softly. After Mama layed egg number 3, she stood up, Bigbird left the house and Mama left the house as well.
Yesterday was egg number 5. I didn't watch as closely, but she did not lay that egg until Bigbird came up to the nestbox with her.
I had been contemplating getting rid of Bigbird because he pesters the girls to death, but after witnessing his standing keeping guard, that guy is going nowhere.