Do I need to weigh down light plastic nest box?

[CGinJCMO]

I have a new laying chicken and I put her in a nest box to show her where I want the eggs to go (first three eggs didn't go in). She spent a few seconds looking, turned around, stepped up on the edge of the plastic wash tubs to exit and the tub tipped. Nesting material didn't fall out, but I'm sure she wasn't happy having that happen and it's possible the egg will fall out. To also help get her used to using the tub, I put a box in the spot where two eggs ended up. Here's a photo of the set up: (the hose will be hung up so it doesn't keep falling down across the top boxes).
Anyway, the question is How do you use these dish pan type boxes? Putting a screw in the bottom would defeat the purpose of easy clean up. Putting weights in the bottom would take up space that a chicken, and her egg needs. buy wood to go across the back side to lock them into place? Would that make it hard for me to gather eggs from the back (I have a door behind the boxes for egg gathering. Maybe I should cut a dip in the front so the chicken is less likly to use the plastic as a step and use the wood. What does anyone else think I should do?
CG

 

[SunnyAlberta]

I'm using a plastic bin, also, and its wedged into place. Its a snug fit into its frame, so it doesn't tip. You may want to try adding a block of wood on the inside of the wood frame to create a tighter fit or try a different box that's a bit bigger. My oldest girl hasn't layed yet, she's just practicing, but they've all been in and out of the nest and it isn't tipping (anymore).

 

[FreedomLover]

I would go with cutting down the front so they don't have to step on it.

Either that or take a small piece of wood and screw it onto the ear side but not too tight. Then you can "turn" it down (so it goes runs parallel to the bin) to "block" the back side of the bin to hold it down and "turn" it up so that it runs horizontal to the bin so you can remove it for cleaning.

 

[CGinJCMO]

I ended up putting a bar of wood across the front and under the plastic lip and that seems to have fixed it.

Snowy laid an egg in the nest box, so hopefully that means she'll continue to use them. I'll keep the old spot blocked off for a while longer to make sure. And since Snowy will be laying for a month or more before the rest of the girls, maybe all of them will know to use the boxes.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts,
CG