Hen sleeps in the garage

[AustinTXMJS]

Hi everyone,
I have hen who isn't being a good flock member anymore. I added a Barnevelder rooster to my flock of five Barnevelder pullets about two months ago, and he has integrated quite nicely. The girls aren't too keen on him mounting them but otherwise have taken quite nicely to him herding them around my yard.

Except for one hen. She was previously the alpha hen before the lengthly rooster introduction. They squabbled a while, and after a few days of showing off and sparring she got spiked in her right eye by one of the rooster's spurs. He has only been gentle and genteel towards humans and the hens before and since that incident. It has been cloudy for about a month now, and she can't really see out of it. She seems to get along fine- still eats and drinks, but has shot to the bottom of the pecking order despite her elevated status before.
Lately she has been sleeping on a filthy old couch in my garage instead of in the coop. I think it was left by previous tenants. When everyone else enters the coop, she makes a beeline for the garage and hops up on the couch cushion... and tries to sleep there all night before I move her.
Anything I could do to discourage this behavior? I typically get home after sundown. Today I got home from work early, sat in the garage, and shooed her out whenever she came in. She went in the coop of her own accord and roosted with the others fine.

How difficult will this behavior be to break? Should I be worried?

 

[centrarchid]

She must be related to Edgar, my pet game rooster, that is roosting in a Bradford Pear right now. He must be policed up and placed in his little coop before owl comes in. The tree is much more accessible with more open location to droop feathers while sleeping. The coop is just too tight. Your situation also likely has a social conflict involved.

First, I would like to look at eye damage before pushing things on the hen.

 

[50-45-1]

I would recommend you trim the spurs from your rooster. Easy to do after dark. He has hurt one hen on purpose or by accident. He may hurt more.
Your hen is now frightened of being hurt again, and with the lack of her sight may never return to her previous status. She may always be the lowest on the pecking order now. I would sugest getting rid of the couch, or shutting the garage door. She may just find an alternate spot though.
Watch to make sure she is not being ganged up on, or kept away from food and water.
Good luck!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Maybe she's just heartbroken from a lover's quarrel.......