Anything I grow in pots are set on top of a couple of layers of cinder blocks so the rabbits can't get to them. The problem I have is rats and birds that have no problem getting up there and eating my strawberries. They'll be getting a screened enclosure before they start producing this year :) Your chicken wire idea should work just fine.

The rabbits we have can't hop up into things. How tall are the feed buckets? Does she have deer?

I know a lady who swears that rabbits don't like garlic and she plants it all over the place to keep them away. Your mom could try planting a few garlic cloves in her pots. Just use the ones from the grocery store. That's one of those methods that doesn't always work for everyone...keep that in mind.

I agree that the chicken wire should work. It shouldn't cost much but it is kind of hard to snip (for me) the wire to size. It will also act as a support for the tomatoes. Just be sure to snip a few openings here and there so she can get her hands in and out to pick the toms.

No deer. Just about anything else though. Feed buckets are fairly tall...wonder if it really is the rabbit or something else. But it's too much damage all at once to be a bug or snail or slug.

Anything else that likes to make snacks of jalapenos, peppers and all?

birds like hot peppers...could it possibly be a mocking bird or something?