Fake eggs are a good way of getting the hens started in the nesting boxes. Or, take a few from your frige and mark them and use them. Once they get started you can throw those away.
I think you will find that the hens will share nesting boxes. Mine do. They have plenty to choose from, but seem to lay in the same one. Then, once in a while they will start hiding them in a new area.
Once your girls get settled in and start laying regular if their production drops down chances are that they are laying eggs in a different area. So, you will need to keep an eye out for where they are hiding them.

Wood shavings should be good. I use about anything which is dry and has some absorbant qualities, some things arent too absorbant like shredded cane but it works ok. I use deep litter and only change it every other year or so. usually one pen per year maybe.

Dont use old eggs or any real eggs, if they manage to break any you will have gg eaters and thats a tuff one to combat sometimes. I keep a golf ball or 2 in each nest box.

A 2 gallon fount should be plenty, even a 1 galolon . It will need replenished sooner and that keeps the H2O fresher. Oxine is good to add to the water, it keeps algae/scum/slime growth down, purifies the water and is useful around the yard.

Pieces of old carpet work nicely on the bottom of lay boxes, they can be tossed when dirty and the hens wont scratch it out.

How deep is your deep litter? I'm afraid they'll next in it if I put it too deep. I'll put a lot more wood shavings down now. Thanks for the info!