Ferguson "Bunny Buster?"

[ghostdncr]

I woke up thinking about this implement and looking around online has produced nothing, so figured I'd ask if anyone here has any knowledge or photos of such a thing. It was originally seen in an old Ferguson promotional film being pulled across an open field and looked like some type of subsoiler, as I remember it. It was specifically referred to as a "bunny buster" and stated that it was used for busting up rabbit warrens. Can't imagine anyone having such trouble with hares that they'd need an implement like this just for destroying them! I have one old cottontail living on my property that we know of, way out back at the edge of the woods. My wife has jumped him a couple of times but I've never seen him.

Any information or photos will be much appreciated and help me put this mystery to rest.

John

 

[wjytexas]

Rabbit warrens are a problem in parts of the U.K. according to a guide when we were in Scotland.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

(quoted from post at 15:44:30 12/18/18) Rabbit warrens are a problem in parts of the U.K. according to a guide when we were in Scotland.

Not as much as in Australia though !

The name ' Bunny buster ' sounds Australian and is most likely the product of the Ferguson Australia marketing department .

Their are two versions of the subsoiler commonly found , this is an early Ferguson model

And the later model , this is my own fitted with a mole pipe layer

 

[Charles in Aus.]

This photo might give you an indication as to why a ' Bunny Buster ' might have been a desirable implement .

 

[ghostdncr]

(quoted from post at 06:40:52 12/19/18)
This photo might give you an indication as to why a ' Bunny Buster ' might have been a desirable implement .

Charles, I'm 54 years old and don't know that I've seen that many wild rabbits in my lifetime! WOW!!! I can only imagine what a population of that density could do to a field.

I finally found a reference to this implement in an old Ferguson film on YouTube. In England, it says, and refers to it as being called "Rough on Rabbits." It shows up at 2:02:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELQgEa_JXJQ


Beautiful subsoilers you have there...

John

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Fortunately that population burden has passed since the introduction of the Myxomatosis virus in the 1950's and more recently the Calicivirus aka rabbit Hemorrhagic fever in the 1980's.
They are still a real problem though and populations are growing again as some rabbits develop resistance .

The ' rough on rabbits ' implement is a Ferguson two furrow plough fitted with as the commentator says '' ripping shares '' . It is most certainly a two furrow plough frame , I've never seen them fitted with theses shares though . They do look the same as the share on the early subsoiler . Either way it would certainly ruin your average rabbit town .
'' What do you call a man with rabbits down his pants ? ''

Warren !!

 

[Bruce(OR)]

I have the one on top. The previous owner said it was good for snapping the bolts off the pinion gear. I have not used it yet.
It also weighs a small ton. I believe mine does not have the wheel and front spring. I haven't gone looking for it in awhile.

 

[ghostdncr]

The previous owner said it was good for snapping the bolts off the pinion gear.

I can only imagine the damage I'd do with a piece of equipment like that, so my interest is purely educational. :lol: