Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0000874Dwarf FortressDwarf Mode -- Jobs, Generalpublic2010-04-09 05:502017-10-18 05:07
ReporterMorlark 
Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityminorReproducibilityhave not tried
StatusnewResolutionopen 
PlatformOSOS Version
Product Version0.31.01 
Target VersionFixed in Version 
Summary0000874: Dwarves refuse to butcher some corpses (buzzards in particular)
DescriptionRight when I embarked, a number of buzzards started trying to steal my stuff, so I drafted a few dwarves and killed them. I build a butcher's shop, but by butcher would only butcher the first corpse. I don't think any of the subsequent corpses even generated auto-butcher tasks (although it's possible - there were a few job cancellation messages when the dwarves were hauling the corpses to the refuse stockpile).

Just in case the cause of death might be relevant, two of the buzzards were strangled, one had its leg torn off and (presumably) bled out, and the other two were axed to bits. The one that was successfully butchered was one of the strangled ones. Of the rest, neither the corpses nor the dismembered body parts could be butchered.

Manually queueing up a butcher task at the butcher's shop instantly cancelled it with a "needs unrotten butcherable corpse" message. Curiously enough, none of the remaining corpses ever rotted. The dismembered leg and wing eventually disappeared, although since there was no miasma, I assume they were eaten by vermin. Also, the one corpse that was butchered gave neither bones nor skin, just meat and a skull.
Steps To ReproduceI have no idea where to even begin. Maybe just try killing buzzards?
Additional Information(Actually version 0.31.02, but that isn't yet available in the report form.)

Save file available here: http://morlark.uwcs.co.uk/misc/df/region1-spr-1052.zip [^]

The game is slightly modded, although I haven't touched either the creature files or material definitions.
TagsIntentional/Expected?
Relationships
related to 0001180confirmed Footkerchief Skeletons of sentients and tame animals can't be "butchered" into usable bones 
related to 0001275confirmed Footkerchief Dwarves refuse to butcher tame animals unless they're directly slaughtered 
related to 0001047resolved Footkerchief Butchered cats only produce skulls, possibly related to aging while caged 
has duplicate 0002672resolved Footkerchief Butcher's workshop only butchering certain nearby corpses 
has duplicate 0003309resolved Footkerchief Buzzards are "Unbutcherable" 
has duplicate 0003482resolved Footkerchief Blood splatter prevents butchering 
has duplicate 0004384resolved Dwarfu Hunters kill animals which cannot be butchered 
has duplicate 0006156resolved Knight Otu hunted animals not being butchered 
has duplicate 0003964resolved Footkerchief Rabbits can't be butchered in Adv Mode 
has duplicate 0007286resolved Footkerchief Buzzards sometimes suicidally dive-bomb into the ground, instantly killing themselves as a result; corpses not butchurable 
related to 0002705resolved Toady One Neither buzzard nor vulture is tagged with [MUNDANE] 
related to 0004049resolved Footkerchief Doe Rabbit/Buck Rabbit corpse not rotting 
related to 0004399resolved Footkerchief Honey badgers and capybaras cannot be butchered 
related to 0003993new  Cavies and rabbits produce no meat when slaughtered, but caravan still brings rabbit meat 
related to 0003357new  Dogs give more edible material than cows; cows have strange meat/fat proportions 
related to 0001522new  Stray kitten corpse not rotting 
related to 0004459confirmed Footkerchief Animal corpses not butchered unless they're in a refuse stockpile (or hunter brings them directly to butcher's shop) 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2010-04-09 05:50MorlarkNew Issue
2010-04-09 09:22FootkerchiefNote Added: 0002332
2010-04-15 09:05FootkerchiefRelationship addedparent of 0001180
2010-04-17 10:30FootkerchiefRelationship addedparent of 0001275
2010-04-18 12:46ArnosNote Added: 0004093
2010-05-03 18:40clamityNote Added: 0006060
2010-05-03 18:43clamityIssue Monitored: clamity
2010-06-11 18:38ChickenLipsNote Added: 0008168
2010-06-11 18:40ChickenLipsNote Edited: 0008168bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0008168#r3079
2010-06-13 15:43oliverNote Added: 0008333
2010-06-13 16:01ChickenLipsNote Added: 0008334
2010-06-14 02:10oliverIssue Monitored: oliver
2010-06-14 02:39MrOblongIssue Monitored: MrOblong
2010-06-14 02:46CelIssue Monitored: Cel
2010-06-14 10:09ContiIssue Monitored: Conti
2010-06-20 14:26FootkerchiefNote Added: 0008805
2010-07-13 07:09FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0002672
2010-07-13 07:09FootkerchiefIssue Monitored: Dwarfu
2010-07-13 08:26FootkerchiefNote Edited: 0008805bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0008805#r3929
2010-07-15 08:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0002705
2010-07-20 15:26FootkerchiefRelationship replacedrelated to 0001180
2010-07-21 09:00HertzyscowiczNote Added: 0010784
2010-08-04 06:48greycatNote Added: 0011480
2010-08-15 14:21KahunaGodNote Added: 0011815
2010-08-15 16:34FootkerchiefNote Added: 0011817
2010-10-10 02:13d64Note Added: 0013291
2010-10-10 09:16QuietustNote Added: 0013297
2010-11-16 13:27FootkerchiefSummaryDwarves refuse to butcher some corpses => Dwarves refuse to butcher some corpses (buzzards in paticular)
2010-11-16 13:27FootkerchiefSummaryDwarves refuse to butcher some corpses (buzzards in paticular) => Dwarves refuse to butcher some corpses (buzzards in particular)
2010-11-16 13:27FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0003309
2011-02-22 13:11FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0003482
2011-02-22 13:11FootkerchiefIssue Monitored: Hieronymous Alloy
2011-02-22 13:11FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0001047
2011-02-23 08:49FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0001522
2011-02-23 08:50FootkerchiefRelationship deletedrelated to 0001522
2011-02-23 08:50FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0004049
2011-02-25 06:32InfiltratorNote Added: 0015497
2011-02-25 08:47ellindseyNote Added: 0015503
2011-02-25 08:48FootkerchiefRelationship replacedrelated to 0001275
2011-02-25 08:49FootkerchiefTag Attached: Intentional/Expected?
2011-03-12 12:45troasTag Attached: duck
2011-03-12 12:45troasTag Detached: duck
2011-03-17 05:46afftorNote Added: 0016322
2011-03-30 02:54DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0004384
2011-03-30 09:34RossMNote Added: 0016798
2011-03-30 09:36RossMIssue Monitored: RossM
2011-03-31 01:15FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0004399
2011-04-06 23:53ImmacolataNote Added: 0017150
2011-04-07 04:03slinkNote Added: 0017152
2011-04-07 05:07ImmacolataNote Added: 0017153
2011-04-08 12:20king doomNote Added: 0017207
2011-04-08 18:09ellindseyNote Added: 0017215
2011-04-17 01:01ImmacolataIssue Monitored: Immacolata
2011-04-22 06:25greycatNote Added: 0017463
2011-07-09 19:05ZzarkLinuxNote Added: 0018189
2011-07-23 02:16GhoulzIssue Monitored: Ghoulz
2011-07-23 02:17GhoulzNote Added: 0018297
2012-03-23 05:02BuglistIssue Monitored: Buglist
2012-03-27 04:07StebIssue Monitored: Steb
2012-08-09 03:28Knight OtuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0006156
2014-01-27 18:02FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0003964
2014-07-14 13:18FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0007286
2014-07-14 13:18FootkerchiefRelationship replacedhas duplicate 0007286
2014-07-23 10:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0003993
2014-07-23 10:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0003357
2014-07-23 10:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0001522
2014-08-28 22:07FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0004459
2017-01-28 15:31FantasticDorfNote Added: 0036234
2017-01-28 15:32FantasticDorfNote Edited: 0036234bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0036234#r14595
2017-10-15 07:49FantasticDorfNote Deleted: 0036234
2017-10-18 05:07FantasticDorfNote Added: 0036798
2017-10-18 05:14FantasticDorfNote Edited: 0036798bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0036798#r14861
2017-10-18 05:15FantasticDorfNote Edited: 0036798bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0036798#r14862

Notes
(0002332)
Footkerchief   
2010-04-09 09:22   
Just to corroborate, I've had this exact same problem with buzzards, right down to the corpses not rotting.
(0004093)
Arnos   
2010-04-18 12:46   
I have some buzzards. But it seems that my dwarfs butchered the normal ones just fine but left the "buzzard mutilated corpse" ones alone, I'm not sure if they rot yet...
(0006060)
clamity   
2010-05-03 18:40   
It seems to be 50/50 for me if my dorfs will butcher anything...the first wave of buzzards my current fort butchered fine, but any subsequent buzzards my dorfs refuse to acknowledge.
(0008168)
ChickenLips   
2010-06-11 18:38   
(edited on: 2010-06-11 18:40)
I can confirm this in .06. Two of the buzzards from the first spawning on the map are unbutcherable as described.

EDIT: Unlike the original reporter, though, I did get skin from butchering the ones that were butcherable. No bones aside from the skull, though.
(0008333)
oliver   
2010-06-13 15:43   
Another datapoint: I suffered this bug and had a number of buzzard corpses (both intact and mutilated) hauled to a refuse stockpile with default settings; they then sat there, unbutcherable and unrotting.

Some time later I created a new refuse stockpile just for unbutcherable stuff - set to take only elves/dwarves/humans/kobolds/reptilemen/buzzards corpses and body parts. I turned off the corresponding settings on my existing refuse pile. I did not set "take from stockpile" at all since that's known to be buggy, I just relied on normal hauling.

All the other unbutcherable corpses have been moved, but the buzzard corpses remain, none of my haulers even tries to move them. So apparently something internally doesn't consider them to actually BE buzzard corpses despite the name, which could explain the unbutcherable/unrottable behaviour.
(0008334)
ChickenLips   
2010-06-13 16:01   
They do seem to have eventually rotted away in my game (I'm about 14 months into it since the Buzzard Incident) -- they had been Dumped into a Garbage zone outside, where I presumed they would lay permanently. Checking it, they're gone, and they don't show up on the Stocks screen.
(0008805)
Footkerchief   
2010-06-20 14:26   
(edited on: 2010-07-13 08:26)
It would be helpful to upload saves with corpses of buzzards (or other animals) that can't be butchered and don't rot. http://dffd.wimbli.com/ [^]
(0010784)
Hertzyscowicz   
2010-07-21 09:00   
Does this involve job cancellation spam with auto-butcher turned on? If yes, I might well have this.
(0011480)
greycat   
2010-08-04 06:48   
http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=2896 [^]

There's a fresh buzzard corpse in the junk zone (by the underground farm -- F2 then up one level). I dumped it out of the butcher shop, where the hunter dragged it after shooting it, because nobody was willing to butcher it. It does not generate an auto-butcher job. Queueing up a butcher job manually just gives a job cancellation, "Needs butcherable unrotten nearby item."

This despite the [MUNDANE] tag in the raw file.
(0011815)
KahunaGod   
2010-08-15 14:21   
I have this problem with most anything, especially ettins, giants, etc......
(0011817)
Footkerchief   
2010-08-15 16:34   
I have this problem with most anything, especially ettins, giants, etc......

That's not a bug. Ettins and giants are sentient creatures, so your dwarves won't butcher them for ethical reasons (just like kobolds etc.).
(0013291)
d64   
2010-10-10 02:13   
Still happening with 31.16, when a bunch of enemies are killed, only a small minority of the corpses are "butcherable". Can't figure out any reason for this: they all seem similar, and they are in a refuse stockpile right next to the butcher's workshop.
(0013297)
Quietust   
2010-10-10 09:16   
Buzzards are quite amazingly tiny - when slaughtering them tame, it's quite common to get nothing but a skull. It's possible that if they're that small, your butchers don't think it's worth their time.
(0015497)
Infiltrator   
2011-02-25 06:32   
Here, I've told the butcher to butcher animals after he's done slaughtering.

There are three buzzard corpses in the refuse stockpile, and one outside, as well as a water buffalo calf. The four buzzards died from my military because they were harassing me and the water buffalo starved to death because of the NW pasture bug (more are on their way).

After unpausing, you'll see that he cancels butchering because of not being able to find a butcherable corpse.

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3847 [^]
(0015503)
ellindsey   
2011-02-25 08:47   
Buzzards are usually too small to yield any meat, fat, or bone when butchered, so your butcher will not bother even trying to butcher them.

Your own tame animals won't be butchered if they died from any cause other than being deliberately slaughtered at a butcher's shop, so your tame water buffalo corpse won't be butchered.
(0016322)
afftor   
2011-03-17 05:46   
I think the reason is really a blood spatters on the corpses. I shot down a few buzzards, some got butchered, some didn't. Those who didn't all have blood spatters on them.
(0016798)
RossM   
2011-03-30 09:34   
Seeing this in 0.31.23 with rabbits. Includes both rabbits with and without blood splatter. Very annoying, as my hunter wasted all his starting bolts and cluttered my refuse pile with rabbit corpses.
(0017150)
Immacolata   
2011-04-06 23:53   
I have a problem with ducks in my current 31.25 fort. My hunter shot up 4, they got dragged to the Refuse stockpile next to my Butcher's shop right away. when I try to queue a Butcher Dead animal job, I recive the Need nearby unrotten butcherable item error message.

I am pretty sure the ducks were wild, they are not rotten, forbidden or anything.
[IMG]http://i56.tinypic.com/2e5jc60.png[/IMG] [^]

Are they too small for butchering?
(0017152)
slink   
2011-04-07 04:03   
I ordered several tame ducks slaughtered, and got the same result, but I did get some duck skulls. Did you check to see if you got the skulls?
(0017153)
Immacolata   
2011-04-07 05:07   
Slink, I did not even get that. If you click the link you see my abattoir setup. The dead ducks are in the stockpile as corpses, untouched. The butcher won't even pick them up, and they were never dumped in the butcher workshop by the hunter that shot them, but hauled to the refuse stockpile (which I enabled to take ducks).

Now, why is a dead duck stocked in a refuse pile and not a corpse stockpile is beyond me to fathom. Terminology for dead stuff in the game is a bit murky at best :) Is it remains, refuse, corpse? What is it?
(0017207)
king doom   
2011-04-08 12:20   
I just had this happen in my fort - a buzzard flight attacked and was killed, half the bodies went to the butchers shop, mutilated buzzard corpses and buzzard corpses alike, and the four corpses remaining, two mutilated, two not, both have blodd splatters on them. This is in version 31.25
(0017215)
ellindsey   
2011-04-08 18:09   
Ducks are always too small to give anything but a skull when butchered. Buzzards are sometimes too small, sometimes not.

Tame animals will always be slaughtered, even if they're too small to give anything but a skull. Wild animal corpses on the other hand will not be touched if they're too small to give anything but a skull.

So yes, tame ducks you order to be butchered will give duck skulls, but wild duck corpses will be untouched.
(0017463)
greycat   
2011-04-22 06:25   
Also seeing this with rabbits in 0.31.25. My hunter shot a few, and dutifully took their corpses to the butcher's shop. The butcher won't butcher them, and attempting to force the job in the shop gives "Needs butcherable unrotten nearby item." They were wild, not tame.
(0018189)
ZzarkLinux   
2011-07-09 19:05   
I got the butcher rabbit bug too in 0.31.25 legacy.

The butcher slays the rabbit fine, but then error "needs unrotten butcherable item" when trying to butcher it.

I have a possessed dwarf who is mumbling about bones... but the rabbits do nothing.

Uploaded the save at:
http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=4649 [^]

Hotkey F2 to look at the barnyard, select any tame rabbits to butcher.
Hotkey F5 to look at the butcher shop, and the dwarf will slaughter the rabbit but not butcher it, butcher job cancels with alert.
(0018297)
Ghoulz   
2011-07-23 02:17   
If this really is an issue of the butcher not wanting to waste time on a corpse that yields no meat, then it would be nice if the hunters would be just as picky. It stinks wasting all your starting bolts on corpses that you can't butcher.
(0036798)
FantasticDorf   
2017-10-18 05:07   
(edited on: 2017-10-18 05:15)
Its a different reaction, but "creepy crawler" vermin from the caverns are size [1000] (twice that of a rabbit [500] and a tenth of a adult crundle [10000]) and can be butchered for BP meat via the "extract from dead animal" (which is false; creepy crawler is not dead and in a trapping cage) job show this is a issue with "butcher a animal" size definitions since that separate job has no difficulty.

Crawlers have no bones and some generic BP of a heart, brain & muscles, comparably to other vermin & non vermin creatures who do have skeletons and bones in relative size inside them with no specific tags.

- Please test whether non-vermin invertebrates with no exoskeletons and only muscular & meat BP can be butchered at small sizes.

Could someone please put this up for possible revision as the creepy crawlers reaction seems inaccurate & the butchery process inconsistent, and i have left a suggestion regarding further discussion on the topic on the forums. ( http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=167867.0 [^] )