MamaSheepdog
Well-known member
The Long-Awaited Bunny-Bucket Tutorial! 
You will need thick, sturdy plant pots- if you use flimsy ones, they become chew toys as opposed to "burrows"! Since we have standard Rex I prefer the typical 5 gallon size, but I also have a couple of short squat 5g (?) ones that come in handy for younger rabbits. 5g seems ideal for the standard rabbit- I am sure you could adjust gallons-per-pound with other classes!
The best way to get pots is to buy a tree or shrub and plant it... something the rabbits can eat would be a bonus!
Sometimes local nurseries will give you used ones, especially if you've been a good customer. I emailed friends and neighbors and found more that way, since I didn't have enough on hand. First, thoroughly clean the pots to remove the soil and any fertilizer or pesticide residue. I use an abrasive sponge with dish soap and vinegar, and an old toothbrush to scrub around the drainage holes and inner edge.
Next, drill a hole in the base of the pot and one in the rim, parallel to one another. Use a drill bit slightly larger in diameter than the gauge of the wire you will use to hang the pot.
You will need to make 2 different hooks for each pot. I used galvanized wire to make my hooks, hoping to minimize rust. The photo below shows 2 views of the hooks for the front of the pot, and 3 views of the hooks for the back. They show overall length, and length of each "arm".
If you can't see that clearly, the front hook is shaped like an 'S', measuring 2" tall, with the top "arm" being 1-3/8", and the bottom "leg" 7/8". The rear hook is shaped like a 'C', 3" tall, top arm 1-1/2", bottom 3/4".
You will put the short portions of each hook through the holes in the pots, with the 'S' hook at the front of the pot, and the 'C' at the rear.
When you hang the pot, you will need to hook the back first. I count in 4 spaces, and hang on the first wire below the top of the cage. My cages are 1" x 2" wire, so 4" from the outside edge, and 2" down from the top. (I colored the "hooks" green to make them easier to see in the photos. This hook is actually caught on the first wire down of the cage behind it.)
Count 5 wires forward from the top rear wire of the cage, and hook the front wire to the top of the cage. The "hook" should be swept back over the body of the pot, providing tension so the rabbits can't knock the bucket down.
