I have been clicking on the hearts below avatars on the boards & in the news posts but it doesn't do anything, for days now. Are the avatar likes not working?

They indeed haven't been working since the forums updated. It's been included in the list of new forum bugs (first thread).

Thanks, I didn't see that. Too bad, there have been a lot of pretty HAs I wanted to "like".

As mentioned, please see the thread for forum issues! :)