<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three beloved chickens who were taken from a primary school in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne's"><span>Melbourne's</span></a><span> south-east have been returned to their coop after appearing in a residential yard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Students arrived at Cheltenham's Le Page Primary School this morning to find Ham, Cheese and Crackers the silkie chickens had been stolen from the school grounds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We believe they were taken some time between 6.30 last night and 6.30am this morning," teacher's aide Anna Ottersbach-McLean said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-how-much-does-australia-have-left-explained/f266e2d2-6b91-4166-8f7e-bb424620cc09" target="_blank"><strong><span>How much fuel does Australia have left?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Someone checked on them last night after school care, they were all locked up, everything was fine and then this morning, I was in from 8am onwards and had the first worried kids come up to me and say 'the chickens are not there'."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The thieves also took off with the flock's food and water dispensers, a bag of sawdust, nesting material and a shovel, leaving Baker with some hope the thieves had honest intentions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cyclone-narelle-could-reach-perth-in-rare-southward-charge/59051576-0357-44cb-b89e-88270336f3c1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions on alert as cyclone could hit Australia again in rare phenomenon</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cheltenham-le-page-primary-school-silkie--chicken-theft/a574bce9-8490-4f00-b619-e6992e04565b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It seems like someone has come in with the intention to look after them because they've stolen the nesting box, material and things like that," Baker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I really hope they just had the best intentions and thought they were doing the right thing. I could only hope that they misunderstood the situation."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ham, Cheese and Crackers were located safe and well this evening, after a member of the public saw a 9News TV report regarding their disappearance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Within 30 minutes of the news someone rang the police and said the chickens appeared in their garden," teacher and chicken leader Gemma Baker told Nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're back at school, safe, with new security measures!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier today, the tight-knit school community pleaded for the safe return of the pet chickens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They were born and bred at the school so we've literally had them from an egg," Baker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a lot of devastated children who are really upset as well as parents, staff who really enjoyed being around those chickens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They offer a kind of support to the children that you can't describe."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>