Rabbit Production book has the instructions and the pictures on how to palpate. I've been trying to do it every time, but I'm awful at it. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place?
Or maybe I'm not putting enough pressure. From what the Rabbit Production book says, one shouldn't put much pressure on the tissues during palpation, so they don't damage the little embryos. I can never feel anything in there, so I just give them their boxes on day 28, just in case. The guy I buy NZWs and my cages from has a really big rabbitry, he breeds them pretty intensively, and has years of experience. He told me palpation is not always reliable. He said he has does that he can't find any embryos in on palpation, but they still deliver on their due date.
As for conceiving at different times, I've read that they certainly can do this, and in rare instances even have 2 litters from 2 different breedings. However, this is very hard on them, so it should be avoided. On the other hand, like with my red doe last time - she is not very young, so I was in a hurry to breed her, the first buck attempted many times, but I never saw any evidence of him actually completing the breeding. I palpated her on day 14 after that, didn't feel a thing, and re-bred her right then with another buck. I did give her the box on day 28 from the first breeding, but I was right, and she didn't deliver until after the due date for the second breeding.
It would be really interesting to hear what more people with lots of rabbits and many years of experience have to say about this.
(and a lot of luck - Wisconsin Ann)
