is nesting material essential in a nestbox?

Its a good idea.

 

It keeps the eggs from rolling around a lot, and also keeps the chicks warmer when they hatch.

Depending on what you use it can help absorb some of the chicks waste so that less of it gets stuck on them.

 

Some hens like to chuck every last bit out of the nest box before they lay, and you usually just let them go.

But when the chicks hatch its a good idea to put some in there, as by then the hen will be too occupied to throw it out anymore.

 

The most popular type is wood shavings, but I hear of others using rolled oats, like the type you'd find in the grocery store.

When I bred, I used to use wood shavings. They used to throw most of them out, but as I cleaned as needed, I'd replace them. As Maddy said, once the chicks arrive they usually keep most of them in. Also... chicks poo A LOT!!!!! Once chicks arrive I usually put newspaper on the bottom of the nest box (I cut a whole lot of pieces to fit), so put a piece on the bottom and then add wood shavings. I found it much easier to clean then trying to scrape poo off the bottom. The other thing is though... some hens like it some don't, so maybe try and see how you go. Having some nesting material when the chicks hatch can also help avoid splayed legs too, which is a big positive!

i use pine wood shavings from the pet store, I know some breeders use lucerne chaff, which I would too but the bags are to big for me to store. I have used it when some friends gave me some last year and I found it much better the wood shavings and plus on it is that the hen can nibble (eat) it.

No, it is not essential. However, if you do wish to use nesting materials, use something edible as they will chew on the nest materials. I would say something like uncooked rolled oats, flakey bran or wood dust/shavings.

 

When I used to breed, I did not provide the hen with any nesting materials. They do seem to chew the inside of the breeding box up though, so they make their own wood dust really.

I am yet to see any budgie chew through enough wood to make "wood dust" adequate enough to equal shavings or another type of product in the nestbox.

Wood Shavings from a pet store or left from my wood turning.