SimplyFellas Compatibility Patch: Unifying Butchercraft, ModernChickens, and Backported Animal Variants
Minecraft modpacks thrive on synergy, but sometimes even the most brilliant mods need a little nudge to work together. The SimplyFellas Butchercraft / ModernChickens / Backported Animal Variants Compatibility Patch is exactly that nudge — a carefully crafted data pack that bridges the gap between three fan-favorite mods, allowing their mechanics to intertwine seamlessly. If you have ever wanted to see chickens from ModernChickens processed through Butchercraft’s immersive slaughtering system, or to have the unique animal variants from Backported Animal Variants drop custom loot, this patch is your ticket to a more cohesive world.
What Is the SimplyFellas Compatibility Patch?
At its core, this data pack is a collection of loot tables and a JSON patch that teaches Butchercraft how to recognize and process mobs from ModernChickens and Backported Animal Variants. Normally, Butchercraft’s slaughtering mechanic — which lets you humanely butcher animals for specific cuts of meat and resources — only works with vanilla creatures. This patch extends that functionality to the custom chickens and variant animals added by the other two mods, ensuring you get the same detailed butchering experience across your entire farm.
The patch is bundled with the SimplyFellas modpack, but it can also be used independently if you prefer to build your own custom modded setup. It is designed for Minecraft version 1.21.1 and receives regular updates to stay compatible with the latest mod versions. Because it is a data pack, installation is straightforward: just drop it into your world’s datapacks folder or add it to your modpack’s data directory.
Key Features That Make This Patch Essential
- Custom loot tables for cross-mod compatibility: Every chicken breed from ModernChickens and every animal variant from Backported Animal Variants now yields appropriate Butchercraft-style drops when slaughtered.
- JSON patching for seamless integration: The patch uses a lightweight JSON file to tell Butchercraft exactly which mobs to treat as valid targets, avoiding conflicts and keeping performance high.
- Fully optimized from the ground up: No lag, no unnecessary calculations — the data pack is built with efficiency in mind so your game runs smoothly even with dozens of custom mobs.
- Regularly updated for 1.21.1: The developer maintains the patch actively, ensuring it works with the latest mod updates and Minecraft snapshots.
- Compatible with all major CurseForge launchers: Whether you use the standard CurseForge app or a third-party launcher, the patch installs without issues.
- Part of the SimplyFellas modpack: If you download the full SimplyFellas experience, this patch is already included and configured.
How the Patch Brings Three Mods Together
Butchercraft’s Slaughtering Mechanic
Butchercraft adds a realistic butchering system where you can hang animal carcasses, skin them, and carve out specific meat cuts. Without this patch, only vanilla cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens would be recognized. The patch modifies the mod’s internal logic so that any mob registered via the JSON patch becomes a valid slaughter candidate. This means you can hang a Sussex chicken from ModernChickens or a snowy fox variant from Backported Animal Variants and get the same detailed butchering process, complete with custom drops defined in the loot tables.
ModernChickens Integration
ModernChickens introduces dozens of realistic chicken breeds, each with unique egg colors, growth rates, and appearances. Before the patch, butchering these chickens would either yield nothing or default to vanilla chicken drops, breaking immersion. Now, each breed drops a specific set of Butchercraft items — for example, a Brahma chicken might yield a larger quantity of raw chicken cuts, while a Silkie might drop feathers and a special organ meat. The loot tables are balanced to match the breed’s characteristics, making your poultry farm feel alive and interconnected.
Backported Animal Variants Compatibility
Backported Animal Variants brings the diverse animal textures and behaviors from newer Minecraft versions back to older worlds. With this patch, those variant cows, pigs, and sheep are no longer just cosmetic — they fully participate in the Butchercraft ecosystem. A spotted pig or a woolly cow will now provide the same butchering options as their vanilla counterparts, with loot tables adjusted to reflect their variant type. It is a small touch that dramatically enhances the role-playing and survival aspects of your world.
Installation and Compatibility Notes
Getting started is simple. First, ensure you have the three required mods installed: Butchercraft, ModernChickens, and Backported Animal Variants. Then download the compatibility patch data pack. If you are using a modern launcher like the one available at foxygame.net, you can easily install the patch directly from the menu — that launcher is designed to be flexible and convenient, letting you add data packs and mods without digging through folders. Once installed, the patch activates automatically. No additional configuration is needed unless you want to tweak the loot tables yourself.
The patch is version-locked to 1.21.1, so make sure your mods match that game version. It is tested with the latest releases of each mod, and the developer provides updates whenever a mod changes its internal mob IDs or drop mechanics. If you ever encounter a missing loot table, simply check for a patch update — chances are it has already been fixed.
Credits and Community Support
This compatibility patch would not exist without the original creators behind Butchercraft, ModernChickens, and Backported Animal Variants. All credit for the base mods goes to their respective authors. The SimplyFellas team maintains this patch specifically for the modpack community, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a unified farming and butchering experience. As an added bonus, the SimplyFellas project has partnered with Wabbanode server hosting. If you are looking to set up a multiplayer server to share your custom modded world, you can use the code SMPFELLAS to receive 25% off your hosting plan — a nice perk for those who want to play with friends.
Why This Patch Matters for Your Modded Game
Modded Minecraft is all about creating a world that feels tailored to your vision. When mods clash or ignore each other, that vision fractures. This patch restores coherence, allowing you to run a farm with exotic chickens and rare animal variants while still enjoying the deep butchering mechanics Butchercraft offers. It transforms your livestock from simple mobs into a complex resource system, where breed choices and variant rarity actually matter. Whether you are a seasoned modpack builder or a casual player exploring the SimplyFellas pack, this data pack is the silent hero that makes everything click.
So go ahead — breed that fancy ModernChickens rooster, tame a unique Backported fox, and set up your Butchercraft workstation. With the compatibility patch in place, every animal will contribute to your survival story in a meaningful, delicious way.